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Autumn Gardening Made Simple: Your Step-by-Step Guide
Autumn gardening presents the perfect opportunity to enjoy your garden even in the colder months ahead. In this guide we outline best practices for getting your garden autumn and winter ready. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get started, ensuring your garden remains vibrant and healthy.
Contents of This Article
Why Garden in Autumn?
Autumn gardening has several unique advantages, especially in the UK. The cooler temperatures make it more comfortable to work outdoors, and the soil still holds warmth from summer, which is ideal for planting. Autumn also provides a head start on spring by planting bulbs and hardy vegetables now. Plus, with fewer weeds and pests around, it’s easier to manage your garden.
Preparing Your Garden
Soil Preparation
The foundation of any thriving garden lies in healthy soil, but what does “healthy soil” really mean, and how can you tell if yours measures up? Healthy soil is more than just dirt; it’s a vibrant, living ecosystem filled with beneficial microorganisms, earthworms, and organic matter. This type of soil has a balanced structure that promotes both water retention and drainage, ensuring that plant roots receive adequate moisture without becoming waterlogged. It’s also rich in essential nutrients, providing plants with the minerals they need to grow strong, resist diseases, and flourish.
While testing soil pH is often recommended to assess soil health, if you’re like me and prefer a simpler approach, there are some easy-to-spot signs that can help you gauge whether your soil is in good shape or needs a bit of extra care. Here’s what to look for, and if you notice a lack of these indicators, it might be time to give your soil some TLC.
Signs of Healthy Soil
Rich, Dark Colour: Healthy soil typically has a dark, rich colour, indicating a high organic matter content. If your soil is light and sandy or heavy and clay-like, it may need improvement.
Good Structure: Soil that crumbles easily in your hand, yet holds its shape when slightly compressed, suggests a good balance of sand, silt, and clay. This structure allows air to circulate, roots to penetrate, and water to flow through without eroding the soil.
Earthworm Activity: Earthworms are nature’s gardeners. Their presence is a strong indicator of healthy soil because they aerate the soil and help break down organic matter into nutrients that plants can absorb.
Drainage: Observe how your soil handles water. Healthy soil will absorb water efficiently and drain excess away, rather than pooling on the surface or running off quickly. This balance prevents both drought stress and root rot.
How to Improve Soil Health Without Disturbing Existing Plants
If you’ve noticed that your soil doesn’t quite meet the criteria for healthy, thriving plants, don’t worry—there are effective ways to improve it, even if your garden is already planted. Here’s how you can enhance your soil without the need to dig up established plants:
Add Organic Matter
Regularly adding organic matter, such as compost, well-rotted manure, or leaf mould, can significantly boost soil fertility and structure. Instead of uprooting your plants, simply spread a layer of organic matter around the base of your plants and gently work it into the top few inches of soil with a hand fork. Over time, this will naturally integrate into the soil, enriching it and supporting plant growth.
Mulching
Mulching is another excellent method that doesn’t require disturbing your garden. By applying a thick layer of mulch around your plants, you’ll help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and add valuable organic matter to the soil as the mulch decomposes. Just be sure to leave a small gap around the base of each plant to prevent rot.
Top Dressing with Compost
Top dressing involves sprinkling a thin layer of compost directly onto the soil surface around your plants. This method enriches the soil without the need for digging. Over time, the compost will work its way into the soil, providing nutrients directly to the root zone and improving soil structure.
Crop Rotation and Cover Ups
While crop rotation is more of a long-term strategy, it’s worth planning for future planting seasons. Rotating crops helps prevent soil depletion by varying the types of nutrients different plants draw from the soil. In the meantime, you can sow cover crops like clover in any bare patches or between rows of existing plants. These crops add essential nutrients, particularly nitrogen, back into the soil and can be turned under later to improve fertility.
Autumn gardening: Cleaning Up
Start by removing any spent annuals, weeds, and garden debris. This not only tidies up the garden but also helps prevent the spread of pests and diseases. Be sure to remove fallen leaves from your lawn to avoid smothering the grass; however, you can leave some on flower beds as they break down and enrich the soil.
Pruning is another important task in autumn gardening. Cut back perennials that have finished flowering, but consider leaving some seed heads intact for winter interest and to provide food for birds. Shrubs and hedges can also be lightly pruned, but avoid hard pruning as this can encourage new growth that might not survive the winter.
Choosing the Right Plants for Autumn
Autumn is the perfect time to plant hardy perennials, shrubs, and trees, as the soil is still warm enough to encourage root growth before winter sets in. The good news is that there are still plenty of late-blooming flowers that can provide colour when many other plants are fading.
Here are some plants to consider:
- Chrysanthemums: These are classic autumn bloomers that come in a variety of colours and can brighten up your garden well into November.
- Asters: Known for their daisy-like flowers, asters bloom in shades of purple, pink, and white, adding a splash of colour to your garden during autumn.
- Cyclamen: Hardy cyclamen varieties are perfect for autumn planting and can continue to flower through winter, providing colour even in the coldest months.
- Winter Pansies: These cheerful flowers can be planted in autumn and will bloom throughout winter, offering continuous colour until spring.
- Hellebores: Also known as the Christmas rose, hellebores start blooming in late winter, bringing life to your garden when most other plants are dormant.
- Sedum (Autumn Joy): This succulent perennial offers beautiful pink to coppery blooms in late summer and autumn, and its seed heads can provide winter interest.
If you’re keen to grow your own food, autumn is ideal for planting vegetables that thrive in cooler temperatures. Kale, Brussels sprouts, and leeks are excellent choices for autumn planting in the UK. These vegetables are hardy and can be harvested well into winter.
Combining Autumn and Spring Flowering Plants
You don’t have to choose between autumn and spring flowering plants—you can have both! Planting autumn-flowering perennials and shrubs alongside spring bulbs is not only feasible but can create a garden that evolves beautifully through the seasons.
Layering Technique: When planting, consider layering your bulbs and autumn perennials. For example, plant your spring bulbs like daffodils, tulips, and crocuses at the recommended depth, and then plant your autumn perennials or winter pansies above them. The bulbs will remain dormant underground while your autumn flowers take centre stage. When the autumn plants fade, the spring bulbs will begin to emerge, ensuring a continuous display of blooms.
Plan for Succession Planting: This technique involves planting different species that bloom in succession, ensuring that as one plant finishes blooming, another is just starting. For example, winter pansies can fill gaps left by summer flowers and continue blooming through to spring, overlapping with your spring bulbs.
Practical Tips
- Timing: Plant autumn-flowering perennials as early as possible in the autumn so they have time to establish before winter. Spring bulbs should be planted before the first frost, usually by late October in the UK.
- Positioning: Ensure you plant your autumn and winter flowering plants in a spot that gets enough sunlight during the cooler months, as this will help them thrive and flower more profusely.
Essential Autumn Gardening Tasks
Watering
As temperatures drop, the need for watering decreases. However, it’s important to ensure that plants, especially newly planted ones, are well-watered before the first frost. This helps them establish a strong root system. Water in the morning to allow the soil to dry out before nightfall, reducing the risk of fungal diseases.
Fertilising
Autumn is the perfect time to transition from nitrogen-rich fertilisers to those with higher potassium content, as potassium helps strengthen plant roots and improve their winter hardiness. For early autumn, consider applying a slow-release fertiliser to give your plants a final boost before the cold sets in. One suitable option from our collection is the ‘Rapid Release’ fertiliser with an NPK ratio of 15-15-15, offering a balanced mix of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). This balanced fertiliser is particularly beneficial in late summer to early autumn when some plants can still benefit from overall growth. However, as the season progresses, it’s advisable to switch to a fertiliser with lower nitrogen and higher potassium to better support root development and prepare your plants for the winter months.
Pest and Disease Management
While pests are less active in autumn, it’s still important to keep an eye out for issues like slugs and snails, which can damage young plants. Use slug pellets sparingly or try natural methods like beer traps. Remove any diseased plant material to prevent problems from carrying over into the next growing season.
Preparing for Winter
Protecting Tender Plants, Hedges, and Shrubs in Winter
Tender plants like dahlias and pelargoniums should be lifted and stored indoors before the first frost to ensure their survival through the winter. However, there are also certain hedging varieties, trees, and shrubs that may need additional protection if left outside, especially in colder regions or if they are young and not yet fully established.
Tender Hedging Varieties such as Griselinia littoralis and Escallonia can be vulnerable to frost damage. Protect young or newly planted Griselinia by wrapping it with horticultural fleece during hard frosts, and use the same method for Escallonia, particularly in exposed areas. Mulching around the base of these hedges can also help insulate the roots and retain warmth.
For tender trees and shrubs like Cordyline australis (Cabbage Tree), Olive Trees (Olea europaea), and Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis), providing extra winter protection is crucial. Wrapping the trunks of Cordylines with horticultural fleece and applying mulch around the base can prevent frost damage. Olive trees, which are reasonably hardy but can suffer in prolonged cold, should be wrapped in fleece and mulched to protect the roots. Bay laurels, particularly if they’re young or in containers, benefit from being moved to a sheltered spot or having their pots insulated.
Fuchsias, especially the tender varieties, also require protection if left in the ground. A heavy mulch around the base and a covering of horticultural fleece will help shield them from frost.
Young and newly planted trees or shrubs are generally more susceptible to frost, even if they are of typically hardy varieties. To protect them, apply a thick layer of mulch around the base to insulate the roots and consider covering the top growth with fleece during severe cold spells.
Lastly, for all container plants, raising the containers off the ground using pot feet can improve drainage and prevent waterlogging, which further helps protect your plants during the wet, cold months.
Final Tips for a Successful Autumn Garden
Garden Maintenance
Continue with regular garden maintenance through autumn. Remove any fallen leaves from lawns, regularly check for pests, and keep beds tidy to reduce the risk of disease. Autumn is also a great time to clean and sharpen your tools, ready for next season.
Reflect and Plan
As the gardening year winds down, take some time to reflect on what worked well and what didn’t in your garden. Consider keeping a garden journal to jot down notes, track plant growth, and plan for the next season. This will help you make informed decisions and improvements in the future.
Conclusion
Autumn is one of the best seasons to embrace gardening, offering mild weather and a relaxed pace that’s ideal for both beginners and seasoned gardeners. It’s the perfect time to get outside and plant the seeds that will bring vibrant colour and joy to your garden in the coming year. We hope this guide has inspired you with practical tips to help you get started and prepare your garden for success. We’d love to see your progress—share your gardening journey with us on social media using the hashtag #gardeningwithharrodoutdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions: Autumn Gardening
If you missed the autumn planting window, don’t worry—there are still options available to ensure your garden thrives.
Planting in Early Winter: In many cases, you can still plant hardy trees, shrubs, and topiary in early winter, as long as the ground isn’t frozen. Bare-root plants, in particular, can be planted throughout the winter when they are dormant. Just make sure to choose a mild day when the soil is workable, and take care to protect the roots from frost during planting.
Spring Planting: If the ground is too cold or frozen, it’s best to wait until early spring to plant. Spring is the next ideal time for planting, as the soil warms up and plants can establish themselves before the hot summer months. For evergreen trees, shrubs, and topiary, spring planting can be particularly beneficial as it gives them plenty of time to establish before the next winter.
Container Plants: If you missed the window for planting bare-root or field-grown plants, consider purchasing container-grown trees, shrubs, or topiary. These can be planted at almost any time of year, including late autumn and winter, provided the soil isn’t frozen. Container plants already have established root systems, which reduces transplant shock and increases their chances of thriving when planted outside of the typical planting seasons.
Overwintering in Pots: If you’ve purchased plants but missed the chance to get them in the ground, you can overwinter them in pots. Keep them in a sheltered location, away from harsh winds and frost. You can then plant them out in early spring when conditions are more favourable.
Protecting Unplanted Plants: If you have bare-root plants or dormant shrubs that you can’t plant right away, consider “heeling in” as a temporary solution. This involves digging a shallow trench in a sheltered part of your garden, placing the roots of the plants in the trench, and covering them with soil. This will protect the roots from frost and drying out until you can plant them properly.
Yes, autumn is a good time to give your hedges and topiary a light trim to maintain their shape. However, avoid heavy pruning as this can stimulate new growth that may not harden off before winter, leaving the plants susceptible to frost damage. Late summer to early autumn is ideal for a final tidy-up before winter.
Young trees and shrubs can be protected from frost by applying a thick layer of mulch around the base to insulate the roots. For added protection, wrap the trunks of young or tender trees with horticultural fleece. For shrubs, you can cover the top growth with fleece during particularly cold spells.
Autumn is an excellent time to plant new hedges. The soil is still warm, and the cooler weather reduces stress on the plants, allowing them to establish strong root systems before winter. Bare-root hedging plants are often available and can be planted from late autumn through to early spring.
Many deciduous trees, such as oak, maple, birch, and beech, are well-suited for autumn planting. Evergreen trees like holly and yew also do well when planted in autumn, giving them time to settle before the colder months. Choose species that are appropriate for your local climate and soil conditions.
In autumn, focus on maintaining the shape of your topiary with a light trim. Ensure the soil around the base remains well-drained, as waterlogged conditions can lead to root rot. Mulching around the base can help protect the roots during winter. For particularly delicate topiary, consider covering them with fleece during harsh winter conditions.
Yes, but it’s important to choose the right type of fertiliser. In autumn, opt for a low-nitrogen fertiliser that’s higher in phosphorus and potassium to encourage root development and improve winter hardiness. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers that promote leafy growth, which can be damaged by frost.
Yes, it’s important to keep newly planted trees and hedges well-watered in autumn, especially if there’s been little rainfall. However, reduce watering as temperatures drop and the plants enter dormancy. Ensure the soil is moist but not waterlogged going into winter to prevent root rot.
To prepare your hedging for winter, apply a layer of mulch around the base to insulate the roots. Avoid heavy pruning in late autumn, as this can encourage new growth that is vulnerable to frost. If you have tender or newly planted hedges, consider wrapping them in horticultural fleece during particularly cold spells.
Evergreen trees and shrubs continue to lose moisture through their leaves even in winter, so it’s important to keep them well-watered in autumn, especially if conditions are dry. Apply mulch around the base to help retain soil moisture and protect roots from frost. Light pruning can be done to shape the plants, but avoid heavy cuts that might stress the plant going into winter.