Autumn is here and that means we might have to look at how we look after our gardens to ensure everything runs smoothly as the colder weather and darker days drift in.
From tending to your lawn to safeguarding your plants, we’ve put together a short and effective guide on keeping your garden on schedule this autumn.
Storage
The first thing on your autumn garden itinerary should be to protect the tools and other gardening objects that may have been lying around over the summer. Garden sheds are perfect for making sure your items are kept safe from adverse weather, and if you run out of space, you could always put up a few extra shelves inside or utilise your garage instead.
Recycle
It’s inevitable that we’ll have more leaves to rake up over autumn and winter. So, why not put these to good use? Although it can take a year or over to reach a useable state, a leaf mould will enhance your soil with organic matter, and if you choose a private spot, it won’t spoil the look of your garden either.
To create a leaf mould, fill a large bin with leaves, add water and cover with wire mesh. As soon as the leaves have a crumbly texture, spread them throughout the borders of your garden. Leaves from oak and beech leaves rot quite quickly, although sycamore and horse chestnut leaves will take longer. To speed up the process, try shredding the leaves instead.
Don’t stop planting
Just because it’s autumn, that’s no reason to bring your gardening to a halt. Evergreens thrive in cooler temperatures, so this is the perfect time to plants shrubs such as firethorn and laurel. Plus, you’ll be glad of the glossy leaves and fragrant flowers when winter hits! Did you know autumn is a fantastic time to lay new turf, too? Worth considering if you want it ready for hosting garden parties next year.
Protective measures
Autumn is sure to bring a few stormy nights, rainy days and even hail. So now is the time to safeguard your garden from the elements. If you have a pond, rotting leaves can block your filters. To stop this from happening, spread a mesh across it and pin it down securely to make sure it doesn’t blow off. You could even add the leaves you catch on top to your leaf mould! It’s also a good idea to protect fragile plants before it becomes too frosty by a process known as ‘lifting’. Simply cut back the stems and gently raise the tubers. Then, wash off the soil and store them somewhere cool in trays of dry compost.
Drainage
Get your garden ready for rain by improving your drainage system. To do this, make deep holes using a garden fork at approximately 10cm intervals. To help protect your potted plants from getting waterlogged, you could either place them in the shed or check that they’re all in plastic pots with plenty of holes at the bottom. The plastic will mean your pots won’t break if they’re blown over by high winds, while the holes will let excess rainwater escape.
Make sure you’ve put measures in place to ensure your garden stays at its best throughout autumn 2021!
