CHARLIE ALBONE’S in the garden
GET YOUR YARD READY FOR AUTUMN
With the change of weather, I feel that autumn is my favourite season. The temperature is a little cooler, but the soil remains warm so plants are still growing. The stifling heat of summer has passed, so it’s time to get out into the garden and do all those jobs that will make your garden sing.
HEDGING
Getting on top of your hedging is important in autumn, as it will set the structure for winter. You’ll most likely have to prune your hedges twice. The first one can be a harder cut to get a good shape – slightly wider at the bottom than the top to ensure even light distribution on the leaves. The second can be closer to winter and a simple trim rather than a new haircut.
FERTILISING
Fertilising is the next big job in autumn. Your deciduous plants (those that lose their leaves in winter) are storing energy up now and will hold onto it until spring, where it releases all the energy for new leaves and flowers. I use a combination of slow-release fertiliser and liquid fertiliser to really load up my plants now so they are bursting with nutrients come spring.
PLANTING
Planting new garden beds in autumn will lead to long-term success of these plants as the soil is warm, yet the ambient temperature slightly cooler. This combination leads to excellent root growth and establishment of the plants. Come spring, these plants will have developed great root structure, which will allow them to put on strong healthy growth above the ground.
COMPOSTING
Before planting, enrich the ground with compost as this will aid in water and nutrient retention in the soil, as well as improving its structure. Compost should be spread over the top of the soil and dug through with a spade or shovel. Not only does this enrich the soil, it helps to decompact it, too. If you have an established bed, use the compost like a mulch and this will attract worms that help to draw compost into the soil.
WEEDING
Removing weeds in the garden may seem like an arduous task, however removal now will pay dividends in winter as growth will stop and you’ll have a well-manicured yard for the whole season. Apply a layer of mulch 75mm thick to give a clean and well-looked-after appearance. Mulch will also help suppress new weeds and break down to feed the soil, so it’s a worthwhile task.
MULCHING
As your autumn leaves fall, collect them up using your lawn mower, with the deck set on the highest setting. This will make picking them up an easy task, as well as mincing the leaves up and reducing them in size. You can add this to compost or cram them into a black plastic bag. Once in the bag, fill it with water and use a screwdriver to make a couple of holes in the base. Leave the bag for six months and you’ll have made ‘leaf mould’. This is the best thing to mulch your roses and add to soil for an unrivalled boost.