Preparing Your Garden for Autumn

There’s a fair chance that your garden isn’t currently looking it’s best. Even without hosepipe bans to contend with, a long and dry summer has left many gardens in need of some TLC. It’s always a good idea to put some preparation in before autumn, to make sure your yard is clean, tidy and in excellent condition before the weather turns colder and wetter and the leaves start to fall, but if your grass is currently dry and straw-like, it might need even more attention.

However, this doesn’t have to be difficult. You can put in as much effort and hard work as you want. You could go all out and prepare shelter from the wet weather so that you can enjoy your garden all year round and plant shrubs and flowers that thrive in colder weather. You could change your colour scheme and embrace the beauty of autumn. Or, you could just do the minimum. Here are some ideas to help you.

Assess

The first thing that you need to do is to assess the situation. What needs doing? Are there any urgent repairs that need sorting before the weather turns? If you want to repair furniture or paint anything, this is the time to do it, before the rain starts to fall. Look for overgrown plants and any tree trimming that needs to be done. Look for bald patches of grass and soil that needs turning and assess which bulbs need removing for winter, which are ok to leave, and which could be brought inside.

Set Up an Indoor Garden

Herbs like rosemary, mint and lavender will fare better inside over winter time. Setting up an indoor herb garden now and moving any potted herbs inside can mean that you get more from them in the coming months.

Fertilise

Over summer, when your garden is growing well, nutrients in the soil are being used up by your growing plants. Autumn is the perfect time to add new fertiliser, giving it a chance to sink into the ground. Turn it in gently with a fork, and your soil will be in much better condition come spring.

De-Weed

Over summer, seeds are falling on your lawn, even if you can’t see them yet, these will grow into weeds. Apply a good weed killer now to keep your lawn fresh and healthy. If you’ve got pets or children, be careful with what you are using and where.

Trim and Preen

Take the time to give your plants, trees and shrubs a thorough inspection. Trim off any dead leaves or flowers and pull them right back. You should also check for and remove damaged branches and roots. This will allow your garden to grow healthily next year.

Enjoy It

Embrace the changes. Get out there and taking cuttings of evergreens and flowers you’d like to propagate. Plant some root vegetables and pick any fruit that you’ve been growing. Then, sit back and enjoy the changes. Try to keep spending time outdoors, especially on milder days and make the most of your garden whenever you can.