If you have an abundance of fruit, share it with others
Fruit trees are at the heart of my garden. I love them for the structure and character they bring to the space, but also for their wonderful fruit, quite unlike anything available on supermarket shelves and, more often than not, produced in such quantities that I can supply my family, friends and neighbours and still have some to spare.
This year, the branches of my trees and many others are dripping with fruit, so this is my plea not to waste this abundance of deliciousness. Firstly, try to pick apples and pears when they’re ripe – just a lift in the palm and a gentle twist will free their stalks when they’re ready. Many varieties will then store well for a month or more in a cool, frost-free shed or garage if laid out in wooden fruit boxes or something similar. Many pears, and some apples, actually need a short spell stored like this to ripen properly. Just keep checking them to see when they’re ready and remove any that begin to rot. Then you can experiment with jams, chutneys, freezing, drying, fruit leather, juicing and cider-making. If you are trying to identify the variety of your tree, or need inspiration, find help from local experts at one of the many Scottish ‘apple days’ being held this month.
All this fruit signals the start of autumn, and a last fiery burst of colour before the leaves fall. Rake up leaves regularly to make the job manageable and prevent a soggy mat forming over lawns and plants, which cuts out light and can cause fungal diseases. A mower set fairly high can be used to lift leaves off lawns
Plant garlic in well drained soil where it will overwinter happily
while they are dry. Cut back faded herbaceous perennials, and tidy away their supports, but leave any attractive flower and seedheads to provide interest and structure during winter. Shrubs that flower in summer on new growth, such as Buddleja and Lavatera, can be cut back by about half now to keep them tidy and prevent them being damaged by high winds, as can bush roses.
Autumn can also be a good time to plant new perennials and shrubs, or lift and transplant any you want to move. This includes rhubarb, which can be lifted and split now to create new clumps. Plant garlic in well drained soil outdoors where it will overwinter happily. Replace tired summer bedding with hardy violas, primulas, and wallflowers for winter and spring colour, and plant springflowering bulbs. This is also the start of the tree planting season, so why not choose a fruit tree of your own? I wouldn’t want to be without mine. n