Bray People

Time to prepare your garden for Winter

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AUTUMN is upon us and the evenings are gradually drawing in and becoming colder. So what can garden owners look forward to in the autumn? Preparing for winter of course!

Planting and transplant­ing work Autumn is a really good time for transplant­ing work because the soil has sufficient moisture thanks to regular rain showers. The ground is still warm from the summer and autumn therefore the plants still have enough time to get used to their new position and form new roots. New plants can also be planted in the autumn with a clear conscience. This is the last chance before the winter to bring a bit of colour into the garden. Roses, should be planted ideally in Autumn, before the first ground frost.

Bulbs can also be planted in autumn so that their flowers germinate from the soil at the right time in spring to delight you with their blaze of colour. Most like fresh, moist soil in spring, but in summer, during their dormant period, the soil can be dry and porous. Bulbs should be planted in the ground at a depth of two to three times their height.

When shrubs go yellow, their stems bend towards the ground or they start to go to seed, it is time to cut them down. This is because the plants are now drawing their sap back to their roots. If they are not cut down, they may decay.

Bushes and shrubs can be cut to approximat­ely a quarter of their size. This can, however, vary according to the type of bush or shrub. You can usually find more informatio­n on plant labels or from your local garden centre.

Hedges should be pruned for the last time in autumn to prevent decaying if damp accumulate­s. Only cut deciduous hedges back as far as you can without creating any holes as these will not grow back over the winter and the hedge could look bare. Any tree leaves lying on the hedge should also be removed otherwise the hedge will not get enough fresh air and sun and could rot.

In winter, the wet, low temperatur­es and weak sunshine effect the lawn. That’s why lawns need some TLC and ‘pampering’ again before the cold spell begins. When the leaves fall in autumn, they should be cleared from the lawn on a regular basis. Mow your lawn for the last time around the beginning of November. Make sure that the grass is not cut shorter than 5 cm as longer grass can make better use of less sunlight. This will ensure better resistance against weeds and moss.

Using an autumn fertiliser is also recommende­d. Autumn fertiliser­s usually have a low nitrogen content and a high level of potassium.

The increased amount of po- tassium strengthen­s the grass and increases its resistance to frost. Traditiona­l lawn fertiliser­s should not be used in autumn since they contain a high amount of nitrogen and make the lawn grow faster, which in turn makes it more susceptibl­e to frost.

Naturally, there are other small jobs which also need to be done before the first frost:

• Beds, roses and other plants which are sensitive to frost should be covered with brushwood or leaves or wrapped in bubble wrap or similar.

• Dig out summer bulbs such as dahlias and store them in an airy box in the cellar.

• Bring pot plants indoors or placethemi­nasheltere­dposition.

• Switch off water connection­s and empty taps and watering devices so that frozen water cannot cause any damage.

• Dismantle pond pumps and, if necessary, install an anti-ice pump. When winter comes, gardeners can enjoy a relaxing break from gardening. But watch out: It won’t be long before it’s time to get started again!

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