Winding down to wintertime
I SPENT the weekend on a deep dive into the garden. From late summer on I’d abandoned the plot by and large. I was working on a tv series and organising a garden festival and there simply weren’t enough hours in the day.
So, it grew! Every plant began to merge into its neighbour and by September our Eden was an impenetrable jungle. But now growth has stalled, leaf colours are changing and I have time to take stock. I’ve decided on an edit.
The planting is reaching maturity and this autumn and winter will be a time of decisions – what to leave, what to remove and what to move.
But let’s start with some October jobs. Gentle hoeing of the soil will expose eggs of slugs and weevils, allowing birds to feast on them and help you with pest control.
Dispose of diseased leaves, especially from fruit trees and roses, to reduce fungal and bacterial diseases overwintering and popping up next spring.
try and finish off weeding and then cover with a thick layer of mulch or bark – this looks good and will help suppress any late weeds germinating in mild spells before winter sets in.
Current mild temperatures mean the grass is still growing so it still needs a mow. However, don’t go too short as you don’t want it shaved for the winter. Any poor patches can be repaired over the next few weeks as well.
You can do this in two ways – fill in the hole with soil, sprinkle with seed and water, or you can rob a bit of grass from a less conspicuous area and fill in the gaps instantly. Lawns can be raked to remove old bits and be top dressed. But if you need a completely new lawn, this time of year is perfect to get it done.
As the leaves fall from deciduous trees and shrubs, their shape becomes visible.
Generally you don’t do a lot of pruning at this time of year but it’s always a good time to remove any dead, damaged or diseased branches and you have the advantage of being able to see what you are doing better without the foliage.
However, don’t go attacking spring flowering shrubs as you’ll remove all the lovely buds! Summer fruiting raspberry canes can be cut back – leave the new green ones for next year’s crop.
Veg growers will be starting to tidy up at this stage unless you have pumpkins ready to be lifted. If you are harvesting cabbages, cut a small cross in the stem to encourage a second flush of leaves.
Clear up the remains of any crops that are finished such as tomatoes and beans – although you can leave bean and pea roots in the soil as they will release nitrogen.
Allow the soil to rest over winter and digest a big meal of well-rotted manure or dug-in compost.
It’s a good time to look back at what was successful and start planning what you will grow next year.
Make a quick sketch of your plot to help you rotate crops for the new year so that they are not growing in the same patch of soil as this year.
You can sow autumn onions and garlic bulbs now which will give them time to develop strong roots before winter.
‘Early Purple Wight’ is a robust garlic that produces large bulbs in early June.
Spring cabbages can be planted as well but be sure to protect them from pigeons and other hungry birds.
Keen gardeners could also get some winter greens going such as lamb’s lettuce which, if sown in small batches, will keep you in salad for the winter.
Make sure to enjoy the season by visiting your local parks, gardens, woods and nature reserves to drink in the vivid autumnal colours – they’ll soon be gone!
There is no shortage of jobs To do and it’s also Time To plan for