Top 5 Essential Autumn Gardening Jobs
The arrival of cooler weather is a welcome change after an intensely hot and dry summer. The extreme heat and significant lack of rain certainly took a toll on many gardens, especially lawns. Now, with recent refreshing heavy rain bringing life back to parched turf, it's the perfect time for autumn garden maintenance and to prepare your garden for winter.
While it might feel like time to relax, autumn is actually one of the most vital (and rewarding) seasons for the UK gardener. The crucial garden tasks you complete now are the secret to a thriving, vibrant display next spring. So, grab your favourite warm jumper, make a hot drink, and let's delve into the top five garden jobs to tackle this fall.
- Clear Fallen Leaves: Essential Lawn Care & Soil Health There's a charm to golden leaves underfoot, but leaving thick piles on your grass or lawn is detrimental. A dense, damp layer blocks light, suffocates the grass, and is an open invitation for pests and diseases. Rake up all fallen leaves and either add them to your compost bin or, better yet, make leaf mould. This free, organic garden gold is an incredible soil conditioner for borders and beds.
- Plant Spring-Flowering Bulbs for Early Colour: Want that stunning, instant wow-factor next spring? Autumn is the definitive bulb-planting season. Get classic spring bulbs like daffodils, tulips, crocuses, and hyacinths into the ground now. Plant them about three times as deep as they are tall, pointy end up, to ensure a magnificent carpet of colour that banishes the winter gloom. This is a top-priority job for September/October.
- Pruning & Cutting Back Perennials and Shrubs: Most plants have finished their summer performance and are ready for a tidy-up. Cut back perennials that have died down, prune roses lightly, and shape up shrubs to maintain health and vigour. Remember, though, not to be overly neat—leaving some seed heads standing provides shelter and a vital food source for birds (bird feed) throughout the colder months.
- Enrich Your Soil: The Winter Spa Treatment: Treat your garden soil to a winter makeover. Feeding your soil in autumn with a generous layer of compost, well-rotted manure, or a good mulch gives it a crucial chance to rest and recharge. Healthy soil is the foundation for strong, vibrant plants, so spread this organic matter over all your beds and borders. Your spring garden will reap the rewards.
- Protecting Tender Plants from Frost Damage: Winter frost can be harsh, so show your tender plants some extra care. Move container plants like geraniums, fuchsias, or citrus trees into a sheltered spot, greenhouse, or bright indoor location. For non-movable plants, wrap them in horticultural fleece or use a cloche. Crucially, don't forget to lift and store summer bulbs such as dahlias—keep them dry and cool to ensure they return beautifully next year.
Need some help for the above jobs? Don't panic, we now have an End Of Season Sale, across the WHOLE of our website.
