Looking after garden structures
Tidy up after summer and protect for winter, says Ruth
WHO said gardeners can start taking it easier once autumn arrives? Are they quite mad? This is the season of multi-tasking, of keeping summer’s garden going for as long as possible while also preparing for worsening weather and packing away our hot-weather toys.
So this week you will find me cajoling the remaining greenhouse tomatoes and aubergines into ripening (they have been extremely slow this year) and deadheading the remaining perennials for a few more late blooms, while also preparing and preserving woodwork and metalwork. I will also be making sure gutters and drainage channels are unblocked and will run clear.
It may seem like rather a nuisance and an added hassle, but these practical maintenance jobs need tackling now rather than later in the year when any weather-induced wear and tear will probably have deteriorated.
Battered woodwork and paintwork will need sanding down and then wiping with a damp cloth before paint, preservative or varnish is applied. Choose a still, dry day to complete these tasks and wear a long-sleeved shirt and eye protectors if necessary. If you are tackling structures that are hard to reach, get someone to help you where possible and always make sure you are standing on a secure and stable platform or ladders.
More routine maintenance includes sweeping the patio, steps and decking to remove fallen leaves and other debris that can become dangerously slippery, or block drainage channels, if left. Take a hoe or blockpaving brush to weeds and moss, and use a pressure washer on decking, though this isn’t advised on paving or brickwork as the power of the water may dislodge the mortar.
There are plenty of chemical and organic cleaners available for use on patio stones, Jeyes Fluid and Ecofective Path, Patio and Decking Cleaner to name just two. Check garden canes and get rid of any that are cracked and broken, then clean the soiled ends of sturdy ones and let them dry before winter storage.