As summer fades and the crisp air of autumn settles in, it’s the perfect time to turn your attention back to the garden. While autumn might seem like a quiet time, there’s still plenty to do that will make a big difference come spring.
With the right preparation, your garden can rest through the winter and wake up even stronger next year. Here’s a simple guide to help you get your garden ready for the colder months.
1. Clear Up the Garden
Before the frosts arrive, it’s important to give your garden a good tidy. Pull up any plants that have finished for the season – summer crops like tomatoes, beans, and courgettes are probably done by now. Clearing out these old plants will reduce the chances of pests and diseases sticking around in the soil over winter. If the plants are healthy, they can go into your compost bin. But if they’re diseased, it’s best to throw them away to avoid future problems.
2. What is Mulching?
Mulching is one of the easiest and most useful jobs you can do in autumn. It’s simply covering the soil with a layer of organic material like bark, compost, straw, or shredded leaves. This protective layer keeps the soil warmer, stops weeds from growing, and helps lock in moisture. As the mulch breaks down over the winter, it also adds nutrients to the soil, feeding your plants naturally. In autumn, spreading mulch around trees, shrubs, and flower beds will protect them from the cold and set them up for a strong start in spring.
3. Plant Your Spring Bulbs
If you want a beautiful burst of colour in spring, autumn is the time to plant bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and crocuses. These bulbs need the colder months to grow strong roots, so plant them in sunny spots with well-draining soil. Make sure you plant them at the right depth—about two to three times the height of the bulb—and by spring, you’ll have a lovely show of flowers to brighten your garden.
4. Sow Green Manure for Your Veg Patch
If you’ve got a vegetable patch, think about sowing green manure this autumn. Green manure, like clover or winter rye, is a cover crop that you grow to help the soil. It improves soil structure, adds nutrients, and helps stop the soil washing away during winter rains. When spring comes, you can dig it into the soil, giving it a natural boost for your next crops.
5. Divide Your Perennials
Autumn is also a good time to divide perennials—those plants that come back year after year, like hostas, irises, and daylilies. As these plants grow, they can become overcrowded, leading to weaker growth and fewer flowers. Dig them up, split the root clumps into smaller sections, and replant them in new spots. This gives the plants more room to grow and often leads to healthier, more vigorous growth in the spring.
6. Light Pruning
Some light pruning in autumn can make a big difference, especially for trees and shrubs. Trim away any dead, damaged, or diseased branches to protect the plants from winter storms and heavy snow. But don’t overdo it—especially with spring-flowering shrubs, as they form their buds in autumn. Save any major pruning for late winter or early spring when the plants are fully dormant.
7. Look After Your Lawn
Autumn is also the time to give your lawn some TLC. Rake up fallen leaves to prevent them smothering the grass, and consider aerating your lawn by making small holes to allow water and nutrients to reach the roots. You can also apply an autumn lawn feed, which usually contains more potassium to strengthen the grass before winter.
8. Protect Delicate Plants
Not all plants are made to handle the British winter. If you have delicate plants or tender perennials, now’s the time to move them to a more sheltered spot, like a greenhouse or inside. For plants that will stay outside, cover them with fleece or mulch to give them a bit of extra protection from the frost.
9. Harvest and Store Crops
Before the first hard frost arrives, make sure to harvest any remaining vegetables like pumpkins, squashes, and root crops such as carrots and parsnips. Store them in a cool, dry place, and they’ll keep for months. Herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage can be cut and dried so you’ll have plenty to use over the winter.
10. Plan For Next Year
Autumn is also a great time to take stock of how your garden performed this year. What grew well? What didn’t? Make some notes, so you know what to improve on next year. Clean and sharpen your tools, store them properly, and maybe even start ordering seeds or thinking about new plants for next season. A bit of planning now will make the spring rush much easier!
Conclusion
Doing autumn gardening might not seem essential, but it’s actually a key season for setting your garden up for success. By taking some simple steps like clearing out spent plants, mulching, and planting spring bulbs, you’ll make sure your garden is ready to thrive when the warmer weather returns. Enjoy the fresh, crisp air, and take pride in the preparations you’re making for next year’s garden!
