The summer is drawing to a close, the leaves are on the turn, and the garden blooms are fading. Autumn is still a wonderful time to enjoy your outdoor space, and prepare it for the winter that lies ahead. Here are some chores to get done at this time of year, to ensure that your garden will be looking its best for the springtime.
Deadhead flowers and shrubs
Taking some time to deadhead shrubs in early autumn can lead to a second late-summer blooming, especially if you live in a milder area of the country. Roses, rhododendrons, tree peonies, azaleas, lilacs, and camellias will all benefit from deadheading at this time of year, according to the Royal Horticultural Society.
Dead flowers should be easy enough to pinch off with your fingers and thumb, or you can use scissors or secateurs if you prefer. If you have hanging baskets which are now past their best, you can plant them up with heathers, or replant them with spring-flowering bulbs.
Prune and divide perennials
If you have perennials (those plants which come back every year) now is the time for a little TLC. Prune back any which are already dying down to the base of the plant, or to the level of any recent growth. If you think that the faded plant adds visual interest to the garden, you can always leave it in place until spring.
If any clumps of perennials have become overgrown and straggly, dig them up completely, divide them, and replant them separately. This will help the plant keep a nice shape, and it should also flower more profusely in the spring.
Tidy up the lawn
Your lawn will need less frequent mowing as the daylight growing hours are shorter. Raise the height of your lawnmower blades to help the grass recover from the hot summer, and to protect it from the wetter autumn weather. If you have weeds, try and pull them up rather than resort weedkillers, which are harmful to wildlife.
If the grass is patchy and brown you could give it a boost with some lawn feed which contains potassium. The seasonal rainfall may improve the condition of the lawn naturally however. If you have bare patches, now is the ideal time to sow new lawn seeds, before the first sharp frost of the year. The seedlings will then be established in time for spring.
Raise containers and pots off the ground
During the wetter months, plant containers can become waterlogged, because they soak up rainwater from the ground as well as above. Stand them on bricks or paving stones to help them drain more easily.
Put a net over ponds and water features
If you have a pond, clear out any dead vegetation, and remove excess algae and thin out any other aquatic plants which are getting out of hand. We are about to enter the leaf-fall season, so place a net over the pond to prevent it from becoming clogged up and polluted.
If you would like some help with gardening in Lancashire, please get in touch today.
