As the long, bright days of summer give way to the changing colours and nurturing rainfall of autumn, it is time to turn our minds to the various jobs that the coming season requires of us in the garden. We asked our team of experts for their top tips…
Cutting back
At this time of year many herbaceous perennials are starting to die down in preparation for winter dormancy. As the leaves begin to brown and curl they can look untidy, so it is a good idea to cut them back. Ideally trim the dead foliage off to a couple of inches above the crown of the plant, avoiding any new shoots that are hiding in amongst the old leaves. There are however some perennials such as honesty, teasle, eryngium and many grasses that can add an element of structure and movement to a winter garden, and will happily wait until the spring to be cut back.
Tree planting
Autumn is a great time to plant trees, allowing them time to establish and settle into their new home before the cold of winter arrives. Increased rainfall during the coming months will also help you with the job of watering them in. If you are planting rootball or bare root trees it is best to wait until their dormant period between November and March.
Lawn care
You will soon need to be giving your lawn its last cut of the year. We recommend cutting it to about 2”. This way there is enough foliage to continue to photosynthesise, and not so much that it will be flattened by snowfall later in the year. Autumn is also a good time of year to scarify and aerate the lawn to aid drainage and refresh the root system, giving a thicker, healthier lawn for the following year. With increased rainfall, it is also a good time to scatter grass seed onto any bare patches of lawn, and to lay turf.
Moving plants
Before the colder weather of winter arrives, it is a good idea to move any pots containing non-hardy plants into a shed, greenhouse or conservatory for protection. Any larger plants in borders that require winter protection in the form of wrapping can wait a little longer, until the first frosts arrive. The ground will maintain some vestiges of warmth that will protect the roots, and surrounding plants, hedges or walls may help with protection above ground.
Dividing plants
Again, with the help of higher rainfall, autumn is a good time to divide plants. Not only does the rain take a vital job away from you, but there is time remaining for the plants to establish themselves in their new position before the ground becomes frozen in the winter. Division refreshes tired plants and will give you a new set of healthy, thriving plants the following year.
Autumn is a busy month for gardeners, with fruit to harvest, hedges to trim, climbing roses to prune, spring bulbs to plant, leaves to be blown and many more autumn jobs besides. If you feel overwhelmed by the list of jobs and feel the need of a helping hand, give us a call to discuss regular maintenance or indeed any larger jobs such as tree work, tree planting, landscaping, design and everything in between.
