There is a particular kind of pleasure in a crisp, bright autumn morning: the light is low and golden, the air smells of damp earth, and the garden asks very little of you beyond a few steady hours of tidying. Get these jobs done before the first hard frost and you will spend the winter feeling quietly smug — and the spring feeling grateful. In a small garden, where every centimetre of border and every pot earns its place, that bit of forward planning really does pay off.

Start with the leaves

Fallen leaves are the single biggest cause of trouble at this time of year. Left in thick drifts on a lawn, they block light and air, encourage moss and leave yellow patches by spring. Left on paths or decking, they turn into a slippery, dangerous film the moment it rains — particularly on north-facing steps. Sweep little and often rather than waiting for the whole tree to undress.

• Lawns and gravel: rake weekly. A flexible plastic rake is easier on small spaces than a heavy metal one.
• Paths and steps: clear completely, and scrub any green algae with a stiff brush before it gets a foothold.
• Borders: a thin scatter of leaves is free mulch — but don't smother low-growing alpines, thyme or small herbs.
• Leaf mould: stuff wet leaves into old compost bags, punch a few holes in the base and tuck them behind a shed. In a year or two you will have the finest soil conditioner money can't easily buy.

Thick, leathery leaves such as oak, beech and hornbeam break down slowly and are best kept for leaf mould. Softer leaves — sycamore, lime, horse chestnut — can go straight onto the border.

Plant bulbs while the soil is still warm

Autumn is bulb-planting season, and in a small garden bulbs are the best value you can get. They take up almost no space at ground level and deliver colour when nothing else is awake. September to November suits most; tulips are best left until November, as a spell of cold helps prevent disease.

• Depth: as a rule, plant at three times the bulb's own height. Big daffodils want around 15cm of soil above them.
• Containers: use fresh peat-free compost rather than garden soil, and lay bulbs in two or three tiers — tulips deepest, then daffodils, then small iris or crocus on top.
• Grouping: plant in bold clumps of at least ten to fifteen rather than dotted singly. Odd numbers always look more natural.
• Squirrels: they adore freshly planted bulbs. Lay a piece of mesh or chicken wire over the pot, or plant deeper than feels necessary.

If you cannot tell which end is up, plant the bulb on its side — it will right itself.

Mulch generously, but not too close

A good mulch is a blanket for the soil, keeping it warmer, holding in moisture and suppressing weeds that would otherwise colonise bare ground all winter. Aim for a layer 5–7cm deep of well-rotted manure, compost or bark.

Two rules matter. First, mulch when the ground is already damp — after a good soaking of rain, not before, or you will seal in dryness. Second, keep a collar of clear soil, roughly 5cm wide, around the stems and crowns of perennials, shrubs and roses. Piling mulch against stems traps moisture and rots the plant you were trying to protect. Lavender, rosemary and other Mediterranean plants prefer lean, sharp conditions, so skip them or use grit instead.

Sort out drainage before the rain settles in

Water is the quiet destroyer of small gardens. Check the obvious things first: clear gutters and downpipes of leaves, fit a leaf guard to any drain, and empty and clean water butts so they are ready to collect the winter rain.

• Pots: raise them onto feet so water drains freely. Terracotta left flat on paving can crack in a hard frost.
• Borders: after heavy rain, look for the spots where water pools. Fork in grit or horticultural sand to open up heavy clay.
• Paving: brush out jointing sand and clear any gully or channel that has silted up.

Protect pots, furniture and small structures

Group pots together against a house wall — they shelter one another and the wall radiates warmth. Wrap terracotta and tender specimens in bubble wrap or hessian, leaving the top open to the rain. Drain hosepipes, lag outdoor taps and turn off the supply to prevent burst pipes. After the first gales, walk the boundary and check fence posts, trellis and climbing plant supports; secure anything loose before it becomes a projectile. Store cushions indoors and cover or move wooden furniture and the barbecue.

Leave a little for the wildlife

Resist the urge to be immaculate. Seedheads from teasel, echinacea and sedum feed the birds and hold frost beautifully. A tucked-away pile of leaves or logs gives hedgehogs and insects somewhere to shelter, and hollow stems left standing until March make ready-made homes for overwintering solitary bees. Keep feeders clean and topped up, and put out fresh water — in a hard frost, water is harder to find than food. Then make a cup of tea, look out at your work, and let the garden sleep.