EVEN at this time of year most garden centres offer a bewildering array of choices – row upon row of plants with little information to help you.

This is a great time of year to freshen up your plot, no matter how large or small, but where do you start?

The best place is, of course, your local farmers’ market. If you head to the Malvern market you will find the Blue Gecko plant stall,where Marion Thorpe will offer personal advice and guidance for your garden.

Marion has a number of beautiful shrubs and plants which are perfect for autumn and winter colour. She said: “We have two varieties of viburnum – Tinus and Dawn.

Tinus keeps its leaves all winter and flowers from about now. It has beautiful little florettes of white and pinkish flowers and will grow to about 1.5 metres.

(five feet).

Viburnum Dawn, on the other hand, will lose its leaves in winter but has the most fantastic little flowers which give off the scent of almonds.

Lovely.

“We also have mahonia, which is a charming evergreen. With its sprays of yellow, scented flowers coming out of a tall stem, it will grow to about two metres (six and a half feet).

“We also have Christmas box, with its small, dark glossy leaves and tiny flowers giving off the most stunning scent you can imagine. It is perfect for front or back door areas where you can enjoy the scent every time you pass.

“Pieris is another evergreen favourite. Its new leaves arrive red and it offers up the prettiest pink flowers, which look just like lily of the valley. And don’t forget our camellia Sasanquas, which flower from September until Christmas.

“These are very hardy plants which are highly prized in Japan for the carpet of petals they leave on the ground.

“Autumn and early winter are good times to plant conifers and bare root hedging, both of which we can order for you.

“Come along and have a chat.

We are also taking orders for Christmas wreathes and holly, which will be available at the December market in Malvern.”

Today’s Worcester Farmers’ Market is in High Street, Bromsgrove, from 9am until 5pm. Next weekend’s markets are in Abbey Road, Malvern, from 9am until 2pm on Saturday, November 20, and in Angel Place, Worcester, from 9am until 3pm on Sunday, November 21.