Knowing the right gardening jobs to do in autumn will ensure your outdoor plot is prepared to withstand the incoming colder climate. From protecting plants from frost to keeping garden pests at bay and ensuring water pipes don't freeze up, click or scroll on for your essential autumn garden jobs to-do list to get your backyard winter ready.
As summer plants finish flowering and any last weeds have been pulled up, you may notice a few too many gaps in your flowerbeds. Don't fret, these empty plots make ideal spaces for autumn and winter flowering plants. Plant winter-friendly flowers that won't mind a bit of chill such as winter roses and pansies, marigolds, heather, cyclamens and primroses. These hardy plants will keep the colour going in your garden for much longer.
Autumn is a great time to move and multiply hardy perennials. Peonies, alliums and agapanthus are all easy to propagate by division. Lift the bulbs after flowering and gently remove small offshoot bulbs to replant elsewhere. Root powders or root activators can help the newly isolated bulbs settle into their new homes ready to flourish next year.
It's also a good idea to tidy up perennials that are staying put like geraniums and astrantias after they’ve finished flowering. You can remove any collapsed stems or dying leaves either by cutting from their bases with some pruning clippers or by gently hand-pulling them out. After you've done this, make sure to get rid of any remaining weeds, then spread some compost over the soil to give your plants a boost, leaving worms to do the rest of the work over the winter.
Make sure you prune your plants while the weather's still mild. Try to cut your shrubs to about a quarter of their original size and thin out the congested stems to improve air circulation. Berries and perennials in particular will benefit from a cutback, as will plants like lavender and rosemary that don't handle pruning well in the winter.
The autumn months often see rain and wind roll into our gardens, so take this opportunity to tend to your outdoor plant pots. Leaving containers on the terrace increases the chances of your prized blooms getting waterlogged when the next storm sweeps in. Instead, elevate your pots to ensure they're not left standing in water, either by positioning them on a raised surface or using pot feet to lift them up off the ground, like this frost-proof bee design from Etsy.
Frost-sensitive plants such as roses, blossoms and young shrubs should be covered with leaves, undergrowth or twigs. Using bubble wrap is a great gardening hack as it helps ward off the cold air. Don't forget to remove the wrapping from your plants when the weather gets a bit milder to stop them from sweating and rotting, then replace it when the temperature takes a tumble again.
Keep your leafy plants protected from frost and wildlife by covering them before winter sets in. There's a range of coverings to choose from depending on your needs, ranging from fleece to protect sensitive plants from the cold to bird netting to shield your strawberries from hungry mouths. If possible, it's best to buy your netting in person from your local garden centre or DIY store to ensure that you get the right covering for your foliage.
Species such as dahlias and geraniums need to be lifted before the winter frost causes any damage. After pruning, gently lift the tubers from the ground, removing any loose debris or soil, and store them in trays of sand, mulch or dry compost, leaving just the crown – where the stem joins the roots – visible. Keep the trays in a cool but frost-free place over winter, ready to be replanted in the spring. In milder areas, you can cover the crowns of tender species with mulch rather than lift them.
Now is the time to plan ahead. Buy some bulbs and plant them now to add colour to your garden come the spring – crocuses, tulips and daffodils are sure to brighten up any outdoor space. Meanwhile, there's a whole host of plants that flourish in the winter that you can incorporate into your planting schedule for the coming year.
Try to tidy up your hedges before winter sets in so they're easier to maintain when the cold weather hits. Sharpened hand-held shears work fine for smaller foliage, but if your hedges are a bit bigger, you may find it easier to use a petrol or electric hedge trimmer to get the job done quickly and easily.
Autumn is the perfect season for a lawn makeover, so revamp yours by laying down some new grass. A standard piece of turf will cover about 10 square feet of soil – make sure you buy from a reputable supplier and get it delivered straight to your door to avoid any fuss. Ideally, you should lay it down within a day of delivery so it doesn't turn yellow.
As autumn sets in and the clocks change, your lawn will be exposed to less daylight and slow down its growing process. That means it's time to wind down grass mowing and altering your cutting levels, too. Matt Adams from The Relentless Gardener says, "You should now start reducing the height of your mower blade, as making the grass shorter before winter sets in will help protect it from diseases and the risk of any damage being caused over the next few months."
Try to give your greenhouse a good clean before winter really hits. As the temperature tumbles outside, it's important that your plants stay warm, so consider adding extra insulation. You could line the wall with bubble wrap to hold in the heat or pop plastic bottles around smaller plants to keep them cosy. Daniel Carruthers from Cultivar Greenhouses says: "If you need to quickly circulate heat in a greenhouse, consider purchasing an electric or gas heater. There are many that are specifically designed for greenhouses, so be sure to choose one that matches the size and thermal needs of your greenhouse."
Autumn is the perfect time to start sowing the vegetables that will provide you with an abundant harvest this winter, as well as next spring and summer. Following the warmer months, the soil will still be warm, so seeds will germinate quickly. So, over the next few weeks, start to sow leafy vegetables like spinach, spring cabbage, broad beans and peas. Now is also a great time to sow turnips, radishes, onions and garlic.
If you know your roses, then you'll be aware that some rose species if not deadheaded (once the flowers have spent) will become rose hips, which contain seeds. If left, they will add colour to your garden during the colder months. However, rose hips can also be collected in the autumn to harvest seeds that can be propagated and replanted. Annelise Brilli from Thompson Morgan advises: "The rose hips must be allowed to develop on the plant for at least four months for them to fully ripen."
The start of autumn is a good time to tend to your vegetable garden and check if your potatoes are ready and ripe to be harvested before the frost sets in. Make sure you wait until their foliage turns yellow, then cut and remove it, leaving the plants for ten days before you lift them out of the ground with a shovel or fork. Let the harvested potatoes dry for a few hours before storing them in a dark spot.
Choose a dry day to harvest your fruit and handle it carefully when testing its ripeness. A tried and tested gardening tip, it's important to remember to store ripe fruit in a box or crate –airtight containers will cut off the air supply and speed up decay. Make sure you dispose of any infected fruit as it can do a lot of damage to healthy plants and could attract parasites, wildlife and disease. Fungal diseases and disorders such as brown rot can be catastrophic.
The winter months can be challenging for wildlife, so transform your backyard into the ultimate animal paradise by creating some practical – and attractive – habitats. You can either buy a ready-made insect hotel or build your own stack using shrubbery clippings or leftover logs. If you're building a cosy nest, do so in a quiet corner of the garden, like behind the shed, so any wildlife hibernating there won't be disturbed. A simple pile of twigs will be a wonderful spot for hedgehogs to hunker down.
Give your bird feeders a good scrub to help keep the germs away. Use boiling hot water to kill off any parasites that may be lurking inside the boxes and make sure that it's completely dry before you restock it for the winter. It's a good idea to give your bird box a scrub, too, providing it's no longer active – there are some birds that nest well into September.
Far from being a nuisance, ladybirds will actually help you get rid of other annoying insects and pests in your garden. To lure more ladybirds into your garden, add flat flowering plants that will act as great landing spots. Shrubs that are particularly attractive to ladybirds include dill, caraway, coriander and yarrow.
Make sure to thoroughly clean around and underneath your pots as slugs are drawn to dark, enclosed spaces. Take extra precautions and rake up the soil and leaves around your planters to remove any potential hiding places. Raking the soil also allows birds to clear up any slug eggs that could wreak havoc in the future.
Harbour Lifestyle states that Google searches for 'garden furniture covers' have recently increased by 400%. But, before you pack up your garden furniture, be sure to give it a good clean to help protect it during its time in storage, using either a wax polish for metal furnishings or a wood preserver for non-durable woods like ash, pine and beech. Then either store furniture in the garage or shed, or invest in a weather-resistant cover to shield it from the rain and frost.
Turn off any water connections and disconnect water features and pumps to prevent frost from getting into the pipes and causing serious damage. Insulating your pipes with electrical heat tape or foam insulation wrap is a good way to keep them protected and frost-free, too. Put away hoses that might also crack or split if left out during the winter.
In preparation for the weather ahead, clean out your water butt by jet-washing the interior and exterior. It’s then clean and ready to collect rainwater over the coming months, which you can use to water your plants, clean off dirty boots and even wash the car. It’s a nifty way to save on your water bill!
Use a tough outdoor brush or leaf blower to clear your paths, patios and decks, especially if your garden is surrounded by trees. In the autumn, falling leaves combined with wet weather conditions can create dangerously slippery surfaces. Instead, gather up fallen leaves and add them to your compost heap. They’ll break down into mulch over the coming months –perfect food for your plants. If your paved areas suffer from moss or mildew, use a pressure washer to dislodge debris and achieve a thorough clean.
A good way to recycle dead and fallen leaves is by making your own leaf mulch. Use wooden stakes and wire mesh to create a large bin in a sheltered spot in your garden. Fill it with leaves, then sprinkle it with water and leave for a few months until the leaves are crumbly, then simply spread it around your borders like a mulch to give your soil and plants some nutrients. If you want to create a soil conditioner, let the leaves rot for around a year.
Rake away any moss or dead grass that has built up on your lawn – pick up a bottle of moss killer if there's too much to remove by hand. Once you've finished raking, apply an autumn lawn feed to make the roots stay strong in the cold months ahead. You could even put the dead grass and debris aside for composting to use as fertiliser in the future.
Just before you retire your lawnmower for the winter, is the ideal time to get your garden gadgets serviced and ready for the following year. With the right know-how, you can service your lawnmower yourself, or if you’d rather leave it to the professionals you can take it to a machinery specialist. Signs that your mower blade needs sharpening include unevenly cut grass, frayed lawn edges, and dents or nicks in the blades.
With the days of parasols and sunloungers almost behind us, it's time to clear out the shed and make room for your summer furniture. To free up space and keep smaller items like tools and pots organised, consider investing in narrow shelving or a wall-mounted storage unit. Take the opportunity to give your shed a little TLC too – a paint-on wood treatment or protector will help keep things watertight when rain and frost hit.
Make sure you scoop out any fallen leaves from your pond and cut back on surrounding plants to keep it as tidy as possible. Netting your pond is also important – use a fine-meshed net to protect any fish as they'll become less active and more vulnerable to predators in the winter. Don't forget to cut out holes for any tall pond plants you have so they can grow through the netting without being harmed.
The best time to clean plant pots is at the start of a new season. Dirty pots can contain pests, bacteria and fungus that can really do damage to your garden, so it's important to be thorough. In a sink or a large container, dilute bleach with water to create a disinfectant. Use a stiff brush to scrub away dried soil and debris, then leave them to dry in the sun.
Give your forks, spades and other tools a good wash and dry them thoroughly. Clean any wooden handles with linseed oil for extra protection, but make sure that you carefully dispose of any used rags as linseed can be combustible. Applying some oil to the metal parts of your equipment is also a good idea as it will prevent rusting. Now is the perfect time to check your secateurs and shears are sharpened for the new season, too.
Give your compost bins a good clear out for the new season and make use of the old compost by spreading it around your garden. When you start to build up your compost bins again, ensure you select nutrient-rich things that are quick to break down. Great composters include teabags, grass cuttings and vegetable and fruit waste. But before they hit the heap, you could try growing your own vegetables from leftover food scraps.
It's that time of year again – haul your cold frames out of the garage and clean them with boiling water. Frames with wood or brick sides are particularly effective at protecting plants, flowers and vegetables from the biting cold. Try to fill out any gaps in the frame with mulch, which will help insulate the shrubs and add a nutritious boost to make your plants stronger for the next season.
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