Blustery weather is on the way so check fences, doors, roofs, gutters and vents now
Autumn can bring an Indian summer and this year we have had our fair share of sunny days and misty mornings, but high winds are almost definitely around the corner and taking appropriate steps now can prevent problems down the line.
Check that fences around the vegetable garden are secure. The stakes that hold panels in place can rot if not treated regularly but there is still time to fix these before the weather turns wild.
Shed roofs are also susceptible to being swept off in high winds, so having these fixed ahead of time will prevent your tools and lawn mower from being exposed to the elements.
Make sure that during blustery spells the windows, doors and vents of greenhouses are all closed securely to prevent glass panels from being blown out, and weigh down cloches and fleece tunnels otherwise these could be scattered over a widespread area.
As leaves begin to fall they can clog the gutters of greenhouses and cause flooding around the base of the structure, so clean these now and, if possible, cover them with wire or use gutter “hedgehogs” – brush-type rolls that are laid inside the gutter, to prevent leaves from accumulating.
Night-time temperatures are holding up but they could fall at any time, so remove any timing devices attached to outdoor taps and then lag the taps with Bubblewrap or something similar to prevent them from freezing. Meanwhile, in the greenhouse, remove excess leaves from tomatoes to hasten the ripening of fruits.
Keep picking autumn raspberries and pegging down strawberry runners and add as much material as possible to the compost heap where it will rot down into crumbly, brown compost that will enrich the soil.
For anyone practising “no dig” veg growing, then they cannot have enough compost and soon too there will be leaves to collect for leafmould, which can also help to improve the soil’s structure.
Leaves can take up to two years to break down, but be patient and you will be rewarded with a crumbly, dark mulch that will give your soil a boost.