Our Guide To Autumn Gardening

Autumn is just around the corner and as the darker nights draw in, our gardens need a little extra TLC as the temperatures begin to cool. Many gardeners think of spring as the ideal planting season, but autumn offers its own unique advantages too! Autumn is a time of transformation, not just for the natural world but for your garden as well. Here are some sure-fire autumn garden tips to help you get the most out of this season.

What to plant

As the days shorten and the nights draw in, gardeners still have a great opportunity to inject some colour and life into their gardens during autumn. Autumn is a great time for planting because of the cooler temperatures and increased soil moisture, which create favourable growing conditions.

For now: enjoy a last-minute display of colour with blooming flowers. Perennials such as pansies, and asters (part of the daisy family) are great choices that can provide vibrant colours of pinks, purples and whites in your garden throughout the autumn months. These flowers are frost-tolerant and can bring a pop of colour as other plants start to fade.

Plan ahead: There are many bulbs which are perfect for planting in autumn, preparing to bloom beautifully when spring arrives. Spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, crocus and snowdrops each a timeless classic that add yellows, whites and purples for a burst of springtime freshness. Planting these bulbs now will allow them to establish a strong root system ready for Spring.   

Vegetables: Hardy vegetables such as kale, sprouts, carrots, cauliflowers and radishes are perfect for the autumn garden. These crops thrive in cooler temperatures, can withstand frost and some even improve in flavour after a light frost.

How to manage leaf fall

Clear lawns: When the leaves start to fall, and the season heads into mid to late autumn, it's a good idea to clear leaves from lawns to keep the grass healthy. Autumn leaves fall in huge quantities during October and November, quickly covering lawns and borders. Left in place they can smother grass and fill the crowns of herbaceous perennials, sometimes killing them. Use a rake or battery-powered leaf blower and keep the leaves to make leaf mould for feeding next year’s plants. 

Raking: Regularly raking your lawn is a simple but effective way to prevent leaf build-up. Using a sturdy rake can gather fallen leaves into manageable piles to ensure your grass receives enough sunlight and airflow to the roots.

Leaf blowers: A leaf blower is a highly efficient tool for removing leaves, typically used for larger areas especially when raking becomes too time-consuming. Leaf blowers can be highly efficient in tight areas of your lawn such as garden beds, under bushes, or around pathways where leaves tend to accumulate.

Best value: Leaf Blower and Vacuum,Cordless Leaf Blower: Amazon.co.uk: Garden £159.99

Budget friendly: LAZY-LEAF Cordless Leaf Blower: Amazon.co.uk: Garden £39.95

Create compost

September in particular is a very big month for composting because you’re beginning to clear out plants that are starting to die, leaves may begin to fall but we’re still cutting grass. This combination of natural resources makes fantastic ingredients for nutrient rich compost. Fallen autumn leaves are a great source of brown material for your compost bin. By ensuring they are moist but not wet, mixed with green material, and turned once a month to allow oxygen to circulate, they will eventually break down into a thick black compost, which is rocket fuel for your plants, flowers, and lawn.

Composting best buys

Making your own compost is both a rewarding and sustainable practice that allows you to recycle garden and kitchen waste to provide your plants with the essential elements they crave. Whether you have a large country garden or a small outdoor space in the city, there are compost bins to suit all tastes and requirements.

Best Value: Green Johanna Food Waste Composter : Amazon.co.uk: £129.99 

Budget Friendly: 4smile 300 Litre Garden Composter Bin Amazon.co.uk: Garden £38.97

Prepare for winter

• Clean and Store Away Garden Furniture - whether it is patio sets, cushion covers or barbecues, properly cleaning and storing items not only keeps your garden furniture looking pristine for next summer but can also extend their lifespan. All you really need is a soft bristle brush, a few microfibre cloths and some warm soapy water to give everything a good clean. And once it's dry, you should aim to store your garden furniture in a sheltered area away to keep it out of the elements over the colder months. A shed, garage or even a sheltered area where you can cover it will keep it protected.
• Add mulch - from garden compost to shredded bark, many tender plants will benefit from mulch over their roots for added protection in winter. Simply cover garden beds with a thick layer of organic material and it will help perennials endure repeated freezes and thaws, while also reducing soil erosion that can commonly follow heavy rain during wet months.
• Cover with a cloche - garden cloches are low enclosures used to cover plants. Offering protection against several factors, they cleverly allow water, air and light to pass through whilst offering protection from frost (and plant-munching pests).
• Bring pots inside - you'll want to move potted plants to a more sheltered location to shield them from icy temperatures. Potted plants are more susceptible to frost damage. This is because they don't have any insulated benefits from the ground so it’s recommended that you to bring potted plants inside as cold weather can kill or dramatically slow down plant growth. 

Remember, gardening is a year-round activity. The work you put in now will pay off next spring when your garden bursts back to life. As you follow these autumn garden planting tips, you'll ensure a healthy, beautiful, and productive garden for seasons to come. So put on your gardening gloves, grab a rake, and dive into the wonderful world of autumn gardening!