Autumn is a great time to get outdoors and spend some time in the garden before the cold of winter truly sets in. The soil is often softer and easier to work, there’s still enough light in the evenings to get jobs done and plants will still put in a last flurry of growth before they fall dormant for the winter. So if you’re green-fingered here are five things you could be getting up to in the garden.
Give the lawn a nice short trim
Grass tends to grow much more slowly in the winter months which is a plus as it can be very difficult to mow in wet and boggy conditions. Give it a final harsh cut-back in the autumn, leave it as late as you can, so that it won’t get too long over the winter. This is also the perfect time to spread some seed in any worn-out patches and spray any weed killer as they will be washed down into the soil by the coming rain. In the winter months themselves, you may not be able to get out there with your mower but keep lawns edged to maintain a smart look.
Rake in any fallen leaves
Raking in fallen leaves can seem like an endless job in the autumn months so stay on top of it by heading out and doing it as little and often as you can. If you don’t pick up fallen leaves and leave them on the ground they can kill patches of grass and will become quite unsightly as they rot. Gather them in and compost them or why not learn how to make leaf mould to nourish your garden?
Tend to your hedges
As with your grass, you will find your hedges slow down their growth in the winter months and some may even lose their foliage altogether. Give them one last trim back and make any repairs to their structure now. Tie in any ungainly branches and plant in any new plants ahead of the spring growing season to give them the best chance to root in before the winter months. You can now buy hedge plants online from places such as Hedgeplants Heijnen which means you don’t need to try to squeeze them in your car or even make a trip to the garden centre.
Collect seeds from your garden
Gardeners spend a vast amount of money buying seeds and often forget that they can harvest them themselves from their own plants. Collect seeds from a plant that you have enjoyed and wish to plant again and store them in a dry place ready for next year when they can then be planted out to boost your own collection or given to friends to help them cultivate theirs.
Buy winter bedding plants now
Buy your winter bedding plants now whilst they are still cheaper and plant them up early before the really cold weather arrives. You’ll save yourself money and hours spent in the cold winter weather and your plants will thank you as they will find it much easier to take to the soil in the warmer autumn months.
