When we think of gardening, we usually envision a picture-perfect morning of a warm spring day with birds chirping and the sun spreading its light. But contrary to RHS belief, autumn is actually the best season for gardening.

It’s an opportunity to tidy up any dry foliage, clear pathways, and prepare for a thriving spring garden. So, we’ve prepared a few expert gardening tips to assist you with your autumn gardening endeavors.

1.Clean Out the Beds

Dig up all your annuals to make space for new plants and flowers. Clear out any dead leaves and give your perennials a little trim. Try not to prune too heavily as many wildlife creatures prefer dense foliage for shelter during the colder months, plus any seed heads left behind will be a tasty treat for the birds! 😋

Pull out old bulbs and after you’ve trimmed your perennials, don’t forget to tidy up any pot-bound bulbs.

Lift them, clean them, and separate their bulbs. Discard any damaged or diseased bulbs and keep healthy ones separately on a tray to dry for 24 hours to stop fungal rot. Then store them separately in a cool, dry place for the winter and replant in spring.

2.Perennial, Evergreen Bulbs, and Winter Crop Planting

As leaves fall and your garden’s colors gradually fade, it can be somewhat melancholic. Fortunately, until spring arrives, there’s plenty of evergreen space to add some interest and color to your outdoor areas.

Planting pansies, cyclamen, violas, or bellis daisies will give your outdoor space lively, uplifting colors so you can have something cheerful to look at even through any gloomy weather and something to see from inside your home.

If you’re after green and foliage planting, try using ivy, euonymus, or scented daphne for winter interest. Planting berry and fruiting shrubs like blackberries and raspberries will provide you with tasty summer fruits and help fill any gaps in your perennial border.

Alongside winter planting for color, now is the time to add spring bulbs to your borders. Daffodils, crocuses, and tulips will all add a burst of color come springtime.

Winter Vegetables

For next spring and summer enjoyment, there’s plenty of produce that can be planted now in your veggie patch, allotment, or greenhouse, which can also be protected under cloches from the next two winter seasons and protected from pests and diseases.

Onions, broad beans, peas, carrots, and garlic can all be planted now, with the protection of cloches offering the best chance against the next two winter seasons and pests.

Once you’re done and all your new plants are in the ground, cover them with a layer of compost to suppress weeds and let the bugs do the digging for you. You might want to turn your compost heap upside down to aid decomposition during its winter stay.

3.Leaf Care

Now, taking care of your lawn, you’ll give it the best chance to thrive during the winter and make it look beautiful and healthy.

Clear Fallen Leaves

Start by using a rake to clear any fallen leaves, debris, and thatch. Be cautious not to disturb any hibernating wildlife that might be residing in the leaves; then pile them in a shaded area and leave them aside for later use (we’ll get back to that).

Once cleaned up, give your lawn a higher cut at the end of the year than usual because leaving it slightly longer will provide it with some extra sunlight and keep it happier until spring.

Air Out Your Lawn

Creating small holes in the soil with aeration helps with air circulation. By aerating your lawn, you’ll release trapped carbon dioxide and allow fresh oxygen to enter, as well as provide better water and nutrient access to the roots.

To aerate your lawn, spend the previous day and water it especially if it’s dry. While it’s good to scarify it first for removing dead grass and debris, this step isn’t necessary.

You can use various tools to aerate your lawn, such as aerator shoes that strap onto your shoes and feature inch-long spikes for aerating while you walk.

Additionally, you can invest in mechanical aerators, which are like lawnmowers and are more effective in larger gardens, although they’re a pricier option. Alternatively, you can manually aerate your lawn regularly with a lawn fork, though you may need to spend a bit more time doing so if your garden is large. Frosting Touch

Trim edges and borders with an edge trimmer and use a strimmer to frost-proof your lawn for winter before pushing it away.

Finally, give your lawn a good feed to encourage growth, and it will come back strong, and there’s no better time to start than with the onset of autumn when establishing new turf and starting over is optimal!

4.Create Leaf Mold

All those fallen leaves shouldn’t go to waste! They can be composted and used to help enrich your plants.

Leaves from deciduous trees like hornbeam, beech, oak, and alder are suitable for making leaf mold, which can be used as a top dressing or mulch for your garden beds.

While it doesn’t hold as much nutrition as compost, it still works great for mulching flower beds and controlling weeds. Its deep color also nicely offsets winter greens.

To make leaf mold, gather all your fallen leaves together and select a sheltered spot that won’t ruin the view of your garden.

Then, use small-holed bin bags or chicken wire and wooden stakes to create a large bin. Fill your bin with the fallen leaves, sprinkle them lightly with water, and leave them for a minimum of two years. To speed up the decomposition process, you can chop up your leaves and help by watering them during dry spells.

Once your leaves start to break down, spread your leaf mold evenly over your borders to improve soil structure.

5.Clean and Maintain

Before it gets too chilly outside, now is the perfect time to clean and maintain your shed, planter, or greenhouse. Clean the windows of your greenhouse to maximize the amount of sunlight your plants receive, and you can even try bubble-wrapping them for heat retention.

Get your gardening tools a good clean and sharpen those scissors and secateurs so they’re ready to work come springtime. Taking care of your lawnmower before it’s stored away for winter is also a good idea.

6.Lend a Helping Hand to Wildlife

It’s not just about taking precautions against the cold weather. The onset of autumn means many wildlife creatures seek safe refuge and access high-energy foods and water as temperatures drop.

Clean out any old bird feeders and nest boxes and give them a thorough wash with warm, soapy water, which will help keep the birds healthy. Replace any damaged feeders and refill with a mixture of seeds, food pellets, and suet balls, and keep an eye out for them during the colder months.

Providing a sheltered spot for wildlife to hibernate and providing food and water for birds can make a big difference to their survival during winter.

7.Clean Your Gutters

When your gutters get clogged with leaves and other debris, it can sometimes cause water to accumulate under your roof, which is something nobody wants, making cleaning them out at least once a year essential.

Make sure you have a sturdy ladder and a tarp to collect all the debris. Armed with a bucket, gloves, and a scoop, remove any blockages and use a hose to flush out any remaining dirt, which will help prevent leaks and damp patches inside your home.

Keep an eye out for any active bird nests when you’re cleaning. It’s an offense under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to disturb or destroy an active bird’s nest, with penalties ranging from an unlimited fine and/or up to 6 months’ imprisonment.

Repair any damaged gutters and seal any leaks using silicone sealant. Check out this handy gutter fixing guide here.

8.Final Tips

After all the digging, planting, and cleaning, there are a few small tasks left to make sure everything is shut down and winter-ready.

Make sure your pond is netted to prevent any fallen leaves and so that the filter doesn’t get clogged. Cover any vulnerable plants in your garden or move them indoors for protection from harsh weather. And lastly, mulch any tender plants with fleece and raise pots onto pot feet to prevent waterlogging.

Instead of all the hassle?

Instead of all the hassle with watering, replanting, and feeding, you could always just forget about it and enjoy a beautiful garden all year round without worrying about the weather. Check out our range of artificial plants, trees, and flowers.