As the sun-soaked days of summer begin to fade and the leaves on the trees begin to turn myriad autumnal hues, the cooler weather and shorter evenings tend to mean less time spent outside enjoying your garden, and more time cosied up indoors. But before you put away your trowel and cover your garden furniture for the new season ahead, there are some key things to do to prepare your outdoor space and ensure that it’s able to withstand the turbulent weather conditions of autumn and winter.
Whilst it might be tempting to leave all of your pruning and prepping until springtime, getting ahead will make your life a whole lot easier when March comes around and means you’ll have less to do to get your garden looking gorgeous again. Plus, with some extra tricks, you can extend the time you’re able to spend in nature and enjoying the outdoors each year, and all of it is easier than you think.
From tidying and trimming to adding some luxurious new all-weather features, here are four easy ways to prepare your garden for autumn, and you can get started now.
Tidy up and prune
Autumn is the ideal time to tidy up your garden, and soon, you’ll likely find it’s essential. Gardens can begin to look very rough around the edges without some seasonal TLC, so start by removing any dead or dying plants, as these can become breeding grounds for pests and diseases over the winter.
You’ll also want to prune back your perennials, shrubs, and trees, but be careful not to go overboard when doing so. Some plants do better if the stems and seed heads are left intact, as these provide structure and strength, as well as retaining some of their aesthetic appeal in winter and providing sustenance for birds and insects.
Cutting back overgrown plants will not only make your garden look neater, but will also help to promote healthy growth in the spring, so you’ll thank yourself for your hard work later on. Doing it now while the weather is still warm will also make it a more enjoyable task than if you leave it until winter.
Prepare your lawn
If you’re a luxury homeowner then you’ll know all too well the importance of maintaining a manicured lawn all year round, so to keep your grass healthy and looking neat during winter, you’ll need to do some prep. First, you’ll want to rake up any fallen leaves and other debris to clear the way, as these can be detrimental to grass health and encourage disease. Next, aerate your lawn to improve drainage and reduce soil compaction, which can be particularly problematic in the damp UK climate.
Applying a specialised lawn feed that is high in potassium will help to strengthen the grass for the cold months ahead – and overseeding any bare patches will ensure a lush, green lawn when spring arrives.
Plant spring bulbs
Many people opt to wait until springtime to plant anything new, but in fact, if you plant your spring bulbs in autumn then you won’t have to make a trip to the garden centre for blooming bedding plants in March or April as you’ll be well ahead of the game.
Daffodils, tulips and crocuses are all great choices and actually need the winter chill to bloom beautifully in the spring, and by planting them now, you’re setting the stage for a vibrant display as soon as the warmer weather returns. If you want to keep your garden looking lovely in the meantime, then add in some winter-flowering plants like pansies and heather to maintain colour and plant some evergreen shrubs and late-blooming perennials, too.
Invest in a garden room
One of the saddest things about autumn’s arrival is that it usually means less time is spent in the garden due to less friendly weather, but one way to counteract this is by investing in a garden room. Treating yourself to a new, covered outdoor space is a great way to stay connected with nature whatever the season happens to be, and whether you’re dreaming of a cosy reading nook where you can settle in with a cup of tea and a good book whilst watching the rain fall over the garden, or a home office away from the hustle and bustle of the main house, the possibilities are endless.
The beauty of a garden room is that it can be exactly what you want it to be, and as the UK climate is known for its unpredictability, it will allow you to appreciate your outdoor space in comfort all year round. Check out wooden garden expert Quick-Garden.co.uk‘s website for some inspiration.
