Get your garden ready for autumn
Gardens gift us in so many ways, but one thing’s for sure, they require a lot of tender loving care.
“Getting ready for autumn, for many of us, means looking forward to curling up with a cosy blanket and a steaming mug of hot chocolate,” says Kate Turner, of Evergreen Garden Care (lovethegarden.com/uk-en).
“The change of season doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy your outdoor oasis though.” To make sure your garden’s prepped for the cooler days ahead, Kate suggests the following things...
1.Deal with thatch
“Thatch is a layer of organic matter that can build up between the leaves and the soil, consisting of dead leaves, grass and root stems,” notes Kate.
“The build-up creates a blockage, preventing essential moisture and nutrients from penetrating into the soil and down to the roots.”
She says thatch areas are easy to identify because the ground itself will have a spongy feel, and lack of
nutrients will cause dull, dead patches on the lawn.
“The best way to remove thatch is by ‘scarification’, which is the process of raking and removing mulch from the lawn,” says Kate. “There’re a variety of tools available, including a lawn scarifier, that will assist with this process.”
2.Aerate your lawn
Kate says this process allows better penetration of air and water to the root zone of the grass, which is essential for gaining the right nutrients to grow.
“It’s a good way to manage lawns that are affected by drought or water logging,” she says. “Aeration is performed by creating small holes in the soil at certain intervals and depths, and can be done using a garden fork or specially made tools and machines – even aerating shoes are available.”
For most gardens, Kate says this will only need to be done once every few years and small patches of lawn can also be treated individually if required.
3.Feed the grass
“Autumn lawn feeding prepares your lawn for the winter by building up the roots and health of the grass to withstand the cold. It’s important to feed with a specific autumn lawn food, to get the grass ready for the colder, wetter weather of winter and strengthen the lawn ready for spring,” advises Kate.
“Feeding in autumn helps encourage strong root growth,” Kate adds, “so your lawn will recover quickly from a harsh winter and put on lush green growth in spring. Autumn feeding is actually the most important feed and an integral part of lawn care.”
4.Planting prep
Autumn is an ideal time for improving your soil, especially for barren borders and veg patches that are settling down after a busy growing period, Kate advises: “To get the soil ready for planting, it’s key to prepare the space to free it from weeds and debris, whilst also breaking up the soil structure to help your plants grow their best.”
Using this time to get some good organic material into the soil is ideal. “Homemade compost, straight from your compost heap, is a great choice, and the composting process can be sped up by using compost maker, as it stimulates bacteria growth from it’s nitrogen rich content,” Kate adds.
Many organic fertilisers and soil improvers are slow-release and long-lasting feeds, she adds, so they can be applied in the autumn months to give the soil a good start for the next growing season in spring. “This is applied by evenly sprinkling the pellets over the soil and mixing in well.”
5.Bring on the borders
Some brilliant bulbs to plant in autumn are daffodils, tulips and crocuses, says Kate. “And they’re sure to brighten up your beds and borders in the new year, signalling the new season of growth.
“Daffodil ‘February Gold’ is a great pick, with cheery goldenyellow flowers, growing up to 30cm in height, whilst tulip ‘Aladdin’ will bring some dramatic fiery colour in late spring,” she adds. “Easy to plant and incredibly rewarding to watch grow, bulbs prefer a welldrained soil, as too much water can cause the bulb to rot.”