Autumn is the best time of year to get plants in the ground, allowing your garden time to establish before winter hits and then using the extra rain to bed everything in before the bumper spring growing season begins. It’s also a wonderful time of change and colour that’s different to any other time of year in the garden and a particular favourite among many a gardener.
As the leaves do begin to change colour and fall you could be forgiven for waiting until they’ve all dropped before getting out there and collecting them. But, if you have the inclination, you can create some ‘bins’ using chicken wire and a few garden stakes in which to deposit your raked leaves for the year ahead. They’ll break down over a period of time to a lovely thing called ‘leaf mould’ which is great as a soil conditioner, as an additive in seed raising mix or just as a general all-rounder that encourages microbial life and earthworm activity around the garden. You could also just rake or blow your leaves onto your garden beds where the same result will be achieved (more or less) with less effort on your part. A ready-made mulch!
Lawn care is also a big one over the autumn months. After a long, hot summer, your lawn may be suffering with dead patches, heavily compacted soil beneath and perhaps some poor drainage that you’ve noted after the summer storms. A good autumn-rated weed-and-feed is the order of the day, either a slow-release pelletised version or a liquid one for immediate uptake. Aerating the compacted soil beneath can be achieved with a garden fork or a special coring machine for larger lawns but stay on top of any weeds trying to take up residence in those bare patches.
Now is the time to be planting trees and shrubs for their leaf or even bark colour. Use the change of seasons to note any particular aspects you might like to have in your own garden, with a trip through the nursery or garden centre of particular value as it allows you to see the leaf colour first-hand before making your decision to plant.
The next few months of autumn are indeed a wonderful time to be outdoors and a fantastic opportunity to be out in your garden tidying up after summer and getting everything in good order before the winter period. A prune for general health as well as maintaining appearances, particularly on any hedges you may have, is also a job to make note of for the weeks and the month ahead.
Happy gardening!
February jobs to do now:
- Feed indoor plants
- Spot spray weeds
- Lawn TLC
- Source some spring bulbs
