GardenerTom

– Early Autumn Garden Article

 

I think most people in Henfield would agree that the summer we've just had wasn't one of the best! However, we have seen a touch of an Indian summer and the past few weeks have been quite pleasant in the garden.

If you have spent some time in your garden you will definitely have seen that Autumn is slowly creeping up on us with many visible signs around the garden. Many plants are starting to display various shades of leaf colour whilst others are starting to look well past their best and require some attention!

I definitely feel that early Autumn is a time for preparation. Bulbs can now be planted ready for spring time displays, lawns can be scarified ready for next years growth, greenhouses wrapped up for the winter and pre winter checks around the garden can be carried out.

Here are the jobs that I feel are important at this time of year….

Bulbs
Now is the time of year to be buying and planting bulbs. Daffodils, Crocus’ & hyacinths are  readily available at the moment along with many other varieties.

When you’re purchasing bulbs make sure they are firm to the touch and that there are not any signs of rot or mould. Most people plant their bulbs in beds and borders but why not try popping a few into your winter pots to prolong their season of interest. I sometimes pot up some miniature daffodils to be bought inside once they are in flower.

Perennials
If you have any clumps of perennial flowers that have become a bit congested or have stopped flowering so well,  then it may pay to lift them up and divide them.

Once the flowers have finished and the leaves are starting to brown slightly, then carefully ease the plant out of the ground with a fork. You may be able to pull the plant apart with your hands although I sometimes use two forks back to back to tease the plant into sections.

I normally discard the old centre of the plant and then using 3 or 5 divisions I replant to fill the gap in the bed where the plant was. You normally find that you have a few divisions spare which are ideal for filling other gaps around the garden or for giving to friends and family.

Planting
Autumn provides an good opportunity for planting many  types of plants. If you do pick up some new plants from the garden centre or nursery then remember to water them well before and after planting. I like to use an organic fertiliser called bone meal at this time of year. A small handful sprinkled in the planting hole will really get the roots off to a good start.

Climbing Roses
Do wait until your roses have completely finished flowering before you give them their Autumn prune.

When you do prune your climbers, the first thing to take out is any dead or damaged wood. Look for signs of stems rubbing on each other and prune out or re-train whatever is needed to prevent this.

Next you want to train in any strong new shoots coming from the base of the plant to try to add to the existing framework. All roses are slightly different but you are aiming for a framework of horizontal stems. You can then prune all side shoots back towards this framework leaving around two or three buds on each shoot.

Leaves!!
Although we haven’t quite entered the stage of heavy leaf fall just yet it is still worth having a think about.

Firstly, leaves are so much easier to clear up if you’ve been doing it on a regular basis. If you leave them lying around them become wet, heavy and start to rot.

If you have space in your garden then why not construct a leaf mould bin. I often use wire mesh nailed to a set of four posts although really you can use anything you have got that would allow you pile the leaves up. All you have to do is pile the leaves into the bin (keeping them moist) and two or three years later you have a leaf mould compost suitable for spreading on your borders.

If you have any ponds then consider placing a net over them to prevent falling leaves blowing into them.

Greenhouse
If you are lucky enough to have a greenhouse then now is the time to consider winter insulation. Ensure that there are no broken panes of glass and tape up any areas where a draught may still be getting through.

I line my greenhouse with bubble wrap on the inside to keep that extra bit of heat in. I also have a metal tank filled with water which acts as a storage heater – taking in the suns heat during the day and giving it out at night. You can achieve this same effect by using black dustbin filled with water.

Pots & Baskets
As your summer displays come to an end, empty out the entire contents of your pots onto the compost heap. There are a variety of interesting winter plants to choose from at the moment and there are a few tips worth remembering. Unlike summer bedding plants, winter plants don’t put on quite as much growth so be generous and go for the instant mature look.

They will still require watering a couple of times a week but you will not need to feed them in the same way you do spring & summer bedding.

The Vegetable Garden

Onions
Its now time to lift up your onion crops. Lay them fist just on the soil to dry out for a day and if you have one, pop them in a greenhouse to let them fully dry out before you store them.

Potatoes
Keep harvesting your main crop potatoes as and when you need to. We have had a bad year for blight so if you spot any markings on the leaves it is best to cut them down immediately to stop the potatoes themselves being affected.

Leeks
Continue to earth up your leeks but remember to place something between the leek itself and the soil. I find kitchen roll tubes particularly good for this.

Carrots
It is best to lift your carrots before we receive high amounts of autumn rain as this can cause them to swell up and break open.

Strawberries
If you are already growing strawberries you will have noticed the runners spreading out from the main plant. These can be snipped off and potted up or an even easier way of propagating them is simply to lay these runners across the tops of pots filled with compost – this way they pot themselves up!

Buying new fruit
If you are looking to increase them amount of fruit you are currently growing then now is the time to get new plants ordered up ready for planting later in the season.

Most Importantly, Enjoy your garden!