Not many people believe that a garden is worth tending to once cooler temperatures and cold days start to set in but autumnal and winter gardening can be hugely rewarding. Most crops are harvested in early autumn but there’s no need to give up on your garden after the goods have been reaped.
Not only will autumnal gardening ensure your garden continues to look nice year-round but it can also give you a knee up on spring gardening. Consider it some crafty planning ahead! To help you out, we’ve listed FIVE great autumn gardening tips below.
1) Deadhead flowers
Deadheading your flowers is a great way to encourage growth in spent flowers. You should deadhead plants such as roses, dahlias and any other summer perennials that still have more buds to bloom.
You should also be sure to do the same with annual bedding plants so they can’t begin to set seed. If they are deadheaded regularly, it will encourage them to flower more vigorously, even during the autumn.
The process of deadheading is fairly simple. To deadhead a flower, pinch or cut off the stem below the spent flower and just above the first set of full, healthy leaves.
2) Don’t forget container and hanging plants
You need to pay more attention to your hanging and contained plants during the autumn months. Primarily, this is because they’ll be packed solid with roots and will require extra feeding, watering and deadheading to make sure they keep looking their best. If you have any container or hanging plants that look a bit worse for wear or have dried out badly then it’s time to take them to the compost heap to fuel your other flora.
Hanging baskets and pots are also a wonderful way to bring a splash of colour close to your home all year round but they can be a special stand out in autumn. We highly recommend winter pansies, primroses, cyclamen and polyanthus for a great autumn display but you’ll need to act fast before the very cold temperatures set in to get them cosy and nestled.
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3) Plant bulbs sooner rather than later
Most gardeners will already be looking forward to spring at the mere frigid mention of autumn and winter but any good gardener knows that now is the time to prepare your garden for the quickly approaching new year. The soil is still warm in early autumn and bulbs will be able to develop their root system, allowing them to flower in spring rather than summer.
Just remember to put your bulbs deep enough! Our number one bulb rule: plant most bulbs at two to three times their depth.
4) Dry out your flowers
Sadly, the summer is gone and autumn is upon us and now is the perfect time to collect up as many blooms as possible to cherish over the cold, drab months. Whether you have the crafty hands to create wreaths or bouquets or just want a selection of singular flowers to place around the home, the beautiful colours that are preserved through proper drying can really change the feeling of your home.
5) TLC (Tender Lawn Care)
Lawns can take a beating in the summer months under the roaring sun and blades of the lawnmower but it doesn’t mean you can abandon them when autumn rolls around. Sure, there’s not much to do long-term but you should tend to your lawn to make sure it’s ready to return next year and last the winter months.
Here are several things you should do to tend to your lawn:
- Rake your lawn to reduce the layers of thatch
- Trim back your garden edges and make sure you collect the trimmings
- Flatten the lawn to reduce flooding or dry spots when the winter rains set in
- Aerate your lawn to allow air, water and nutrients to the lawn’s roots
- Dress your lawn. We recommend a growth formula rather than a suit and tie
Autumn is a wonderful time of year to get outside and is a great time to give back to your garden the spoils and beauty it has bestowed on you throughout the year. A little attention here and there will set you up for next year where you can show off your fresh begonias and bulbs to all your neighbours around the residential park!
