Autumn garden 'to-do' list by Jo Ixer

October 14, 2012

It's starting to get chilly, time to wrap the kids up warm and get over to Belfairs woods to kick through leaves and search for conkers!!  The leaves are beginning to change promising us glorious shades of orange and red, its Autumn.

Its got to the time of year when we are busy harvesting and thinking of putting the garden to bed. We have been at the allotment digging up beetroot,potatoes, collecting the last of the runner beans and beginning to tidy up. Its time to pick your produce (or forage) and make jams. chutney and jellies. Kids love to harvest food- after all its the best bit! Hyde hall RHS garden at Rettendon has a two day grow your own festival on 20th and 21st October to inspire you and there are kids activities too. 

Although its time to start thinking about preparing the garden for colder months, October to April is the best time to  plant trees, fruit canes, shrubs and evergreens and climbers. This is  because they can concentrate on developing good strong root growth ready for next spring.

 You may want to spend a few minutes to look at your garden, spotting any bare patches to fill with plants such as evergreens, grasses and ornamental cabbages.  To inject a bit more colour use plants  such as winter pansies, smiley faced Violas, Chrysanthemum and Rudbekia.   Heucheras are fantastic for giving all year colour with many different shades of purple, plums and caramels through to limes. You can divide herbaceous perennials, at this time of year, which will you give you new plants for free, or why not swap with friends. Take inspiration from local parks, other peoples gardens and local garden centres. 

Some other things to do this month

Look ahead to spring and plant your bulbs. There are many types to chose from whether you plant them in your containers or in beds or borders. Tulips are better planted later in Autumn to aviod disease (Tulip fire).

Last chance to lift the height on your lawn mower and mow lawns.

Last chance to trim deciduous hedges.

Reduce the height of standard roses to protect from high winds which causes damage to roots due to wind rock.

Keep falling leaves off the lawns, collect them up and make leafmould.

Protect tender plants from early frosts or put them undercover. Bringing in your soft leaved herbs such as basil and parsley and placing on a sunny windowsill will prolong their life so  you can enjoy them for longer. Chilli plants can  also be brought onto a sunny windowsill and  they will survive nicely to produce again next year. 

Plant Rhubarb crowns

Plant garlic and japanese onion sets.

 You can sow a hardy variety of broad beans such as 'Aquadulce Claudia' to give an earlier crop next year, but cover to protect them from mice!

Its importanat to prepare the soil for spring by putting well rotting manure on to replace nutrients lost  in  this seasons use. Or sow green manure ready to dig in next spring.

Dont forget to collect seeds from the produce grown this year to sow next year.

Keep your brassicas covered to protect them from hungry birds!!

There is plenty to do in the garden and veg patch at this time of year but dont forget to take a break from your hard work, grab a cuppa, and look at the Autumn colours around you.