Many gardeners swear by pruning roses (it's one of Monty Don's top plants to prune in September), but Arit Anderson has credited garden neglect as the secret to her blooming rose bush.
"There was one time when I had a very pruned and clipped garden — I would mow the lawn every week. As things got busier, the garden got more neglected," the British garden designer and writer tells Country Living.
"It was upsetting at first, but then I allowed things to meander and decided not to prune the roses every year. Now, I've got this huge prolific rose bush that grows without hardly any human intervention. It might get black spot, but if it does, then I don't stress. It disappears the following year."
Before you rush to hang up your gardening gloves, Arit says we should spend more time trusting, observing and watching our own outdoor space, rather than following rules too closely.
"You will always learn something new by getting things wrong. Asking stupid questions is the rule to follow," she tells us over the phone, "I used to be paranoid about not getting my tulips in on time, but if the weather isn't good, it won't work. I plant them out of season and they always come through.
"Become observant of the timing and what the plant needs. The joy of gardening is that it pushes us to become more observant."
Gardening in step with the seasons is vitally important for a healthy plot. With autumn in the air, Arit says she has a few jobs to tick off.
"I've got a small garden with a lot of trees. This autumn, I'll be looking at what I can cut back as some of them are getting a bit big. Autumn is also a good time to plan perennial moves and see if anything has become too big.
"You may need to divide some of yours. Now is a good time to do this, as you'll see everything in the green. Once things have died back in winter, it will be hard to see how big your plants are. I desperately want to get better at my containers. It's a good idea to plan how you'll get your containers looking good year-round and what bulbs you might put in."
Other autumn jobs Arit recommends are planning your annual flowers, refreshing compost in containers and looking at your soil health.
Don't forget: "Annuals only get one season of interest, so planning them carefully can keep everything looking great."
To see more of Arit's gardening updates, head to her Instagram.
17 best gardening tools to buy now including spades, trowels and rakes
Give your garden plants some love this summer with this useful multi-tool. Finished in titanium with brass fixings, this tool features six different functions including secateurs, a root remover, knife, saw, bottle opener and an easy weeding utensil.
Protect your knees when gardening with this practical green kneeler and seat. It has been made with steel tubes and comfortable polypropylene foam so you can garden comfortably. There's also a small pouch on the side, making it easy to pop your tools in as you work.
Protect your hands with these practical grey gardening gloves, made from a comfortable nylon and spandex liner. Best suited for potting and pruning, they have breathable lining and a nitrile grip coating.
Developed alongside Kew Garden's horticultural team, this set features a weedfork, hand trowel and transplanting trowel. Ideal if you're on the hunt for a gift.
Crafted from wood and stainless steel, this lovely garden tool set is just what every gardener needs. The leather hooks make it easy to hang up in a shed, while the trowel has been marked in centimetres and inches to make planting easier than ever.
Walsall 90L Polypropylene Multipurpose Wheelbarrow
Every garden needs a wheelbarrow. In a classic green, this lightweight style from Argos is ideal for gardening, DIY work and equestrian uses.
With a longer handle to ease back strain, this stainless digging spade has been created for all digging jobs. As well as this, the hardened steel blade is rust-resistant and will hold its edge without regular sharpening. Perfect for every avid gardener.
Keep your plants happy and healthy with this terracotta watering can. Designed by Shane Schneck, it boasts a no-spill lip and a shape that keeps water weight at its base.
Tried and tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute, this garden fork from Sophie Conran is a stylish addition to any outdoor space. Made of stainless steel with a waxed beechwood handle, it has sharpened tines which cut through hard and soft soil very easily.
When life gives you lemons...buy a stylish kneeler pillow. With a generous size and soft foam filling, you can be sure to tackle those weeds comfortably without any pain.
Looking for some summer seeds? This pack includes thyme, mixed herbs, oregano and summer savoury, too. Ideal to spruce up a tired-looking lawn patch.
READ MORE: Plant these 11 wildflowers to create a bee motorway in your garden
You'll find eight handy tools in this set, including pruning shears, a hand trowel, transplanter, weeder, cultivator, hand rake, gardening gloves and a tote bag. At just £40, it's a real steal buy.
Trim your hedge just as you like with these 66cm topiary shears. Ideal for trimming and shaping, they have narrow pointed blades, rubber shock absorbers and a long length ergonomic design.
READ MORE: How to get rid of moles in the garden
Providing high performance cutting with a clean finish, this grass trimmer from Bosch has an easy edging function which enables quick changes from trimming to edging. Ideal for reaching those tricker spots with ease.
Sweep up leaves and fallen debris with this practical wooden rake from Garden Trading. Crafted from Beech, the strong wooden handle offers support, while the prongs allow for effective raking.
Presented in a beautiful box, this set includes a trowel and secateurs. Featuring artwork from the RHS Lindley Library, they're both a stylish and practical addition to any garden.
This electric lawnmower helps you to cut through long grass with ease, thanks to its innovative inset grass combs and lightweight design.
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Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
