Aye's Advice: Preparing your garden for Autumn

It’s time to prepare our gardens for autumn. With the vibrant colours of summer fading away, and temperatures dropping, it's time to shift our gardening focus to the beautiful season of autumn. This transitional period brings its own set of challenges and opportunities for your garden. To help you make the most of this time, we've compiled a list of 10 essential autumn garden tasks that will not only maintain but also enhance the beauty of your outdoor space.

Clear the debris

Before you dive into any autumn garden tasks, start by giving your garden a good clean-up. Fallen leaves, dead plants, and debris can accumulate quickly. Raking up leaves not only keeps your garden looking tidy but also prevents them from smothering your lawn and plants. And don’t forget to check gutters and drainage too.

You’ll also need to regularly sweep your patios, driveways and paths throughout the season, to help prevent slips and falls, as fallen leaves can make surfaces quite slippery. And the best part? If you compost all that organic material you collect, you'll end up with some nutrient-rich mulch that your garden beds will love.

Prune and Trim

Autumn is the perfect time to prune and trim your shrubs, trees, and hedges. Trimming away dead or overgrown branches promotes healthy growth, increases air circulation, and lets more sunlight reach your plants. A good prune will also help to tidy up your garden, giving it more structure for the winter months. Be sure to research the specific pruning needs of each plant in your garden to avoid damaging them.

Autumn hedge trimming in Dorking

Divide Perennials

Many perennials benefit from division at this time of year. Dividing not only helps to rejuvenate the plants and keep them tidy but also allows you to expand your garden or share with fellow gardening enthusiasts. Plants like irises, hostas, and daylilies are prime candidates for division during this season. Remember that when dividing plants, it's essential to water them well both before and after division to help reduce transplant shock. Also, make sure to replant the divided sections at the same depth they were growing before.

Plant bulbs for Spring

Look ahead to spring and plant spring-flowering bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and crocuses. These bulbs need the cold winter months to develop strong root systems before they burst forth in a riot of colour come spring. Plant them in well-drained soil at the appropriate depth for a stunning spring garden display.

Mulch and Protect

A layer of mulch is like a cosy blanket for your garden beds during the cold months. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch to help regulate soil temperature, retain moisture, and prevent weeds. Don't forget to protect sensitive plants from frost with covers, or move potted plants indoors if necessary.

Autumn is the perfect time to weed and mulch your beds

Prepare your lawn

Autumn is the ideal time for lawn care. Start by aerating your lawn to improve water and nutrient penetration. Then, overseed to fill in any bare patches and keep your lawn lush and green. Finish with a balanced fertilizer to give your grass a head start for the next growing season.

This is also the ideal time to lay turf or reseed, as the winter months will give plenty of time for it to root in before spring.

Prepare your compost pile

Autumn is a prime time to beef up your compost pile. All those fallen leaves and garden debris that you’ve been clearing create a nutrient-rich compost. Don’t forget that you can add kitchen scraps too. A well-maintained compost pile will provide you with a steady supply of organic matter to enrich your garden soil year-round. And it’s free!

Evaluate and Plan

Take this time to reflect on your garden's performance throughout the year. What worked well, and what could use improvement? Use these ideas to plan your garden's design and plant selections for next year. Autumn is the perfect season to research and order seeds and plants for the upcoming spring.

Embrace the changing season and give your garden a good tidy up

Enjoy the season

Last but not least, don't forget to simply enjoy your garden during autumn. Walk around your garden, savour the crisp air, and soak in the pretty autumn colours. Consider adding some outdoor lighting or cosy seating areas to make the most of your garden even as the days grow shorter.

In conclusion, autumn offers a unique opportunity to transform your garden into a thriving and beautiful space. By tackling these 10 essential tasks, you'll ensure that your garden not only survives the colder months but also thrives when spring returns. Embrace the changing seasons, and let your garden be a source of inspiration and joy throughout the year.

If you need some help designing an outdoor space that complements your home, give us a call to discuss your ideas, and let us help you bring them to life!

Preparing your garden for Autumn