Autumn Is In The Air: This Is How To Prepare Your Garden For The Change In Season
Autumn is one of the most magical times of the year. It’s when the leaves on the trees turn into a warm rainbow of brown, yellow and red, and slowly drift to the ground, making piles perfect to crunch through during autumnal walks. It’s also when nature begins to go into ‘rest mode’ making the changes necessary to survive the colder weather ahead. Of course, to help nature, and more specifically your garden makes these changes there are some things you must do. Read on to find out what they are.
Autumn Lawn Care
If you want your lawn to survive the winter and burst with green next spring, you will need to make sure it is well cared for this autumn. This means giving it a thorough raking and adding any moss or thatch you collect to your compost bin.
Once that is done you can use a specially formulated lawn feed that is designed to minimise moss and provide your lawn with the nutrition it needs to survive the winter. Oh, and don’t forget to make sure that your drainage is sufficient. This means using a garden fork to make deep holes around 10-15 cm apart across the whole of your lawn.
Time To Plant Evergreens
Autumn and winter can be a bare time in the garden unless you prepare for it now by planting evergreens. In fact, plants such as daphne will give you plenty of structure and texture during the colder months, and even provide you with flowers as well.
For those that love topiary, remember that yew trees or boxwoods will stay green every season, and can inject some much-needed interest and structure into an otherwise sparse garden.
Also, to get ready for the next spring, the autumn is the perfect time to start planting things like Pansies, shrubs, and Spring Bulbs such as Crocus, Fritillaria, and Hyacinths as there is plenty of time for them to start establishing roots, before the frost sets in.
Protect Your Pond
In the Autumn falling leaves get everywhere and one place that you definitely do not want them is your pond. This is because they will rot in the water, turning it bad and smelly. Decomposing leaves will also jam your filter pumps so be sure that you do not leave them to collect.
You may even wish to install a pond net that will catch the leaves before they hit the water, making it easier to collect them every few days. Just be sure to find a net with a small gauge so as little debris makes it through as possible.
Equipment Maintenance
Last of all, as autumn arrives it’s a very good idea to do some maintenance on your garden equipment. After all, you won’t be using too much of it during the colder months. Begin with sharpening your shears, and washing the rest of your tools such as spades and forks. Remember that because these items are made with wood and metal, they need to be thoroughly dried and then properly treated before you stow them away.
Autumn is also the perfect time to have your lawn mower serviced. Indeed, by serving your lawn mower you will not only ensure it’s ready for action when spring hits but extends its life span as well.
