Homes & Gardens
Autumn in the garden… so much to do
As we are gently nudged into autumn and the colder months from our Indian summer, we may think there isn’t much to do in the garden. But keeping your garden clean and tidy now will certainly make life easier in spring and now is certainly the time to be planting bulbs if you want to be rewarded with swathes of spring colour.
Here are some useful tips to keep you busy in the garden over the coming months:
Clean up If you’ve been socialising this summer and enjoyed outdoor entertaining with family and friends, don’t forget to clean and dry your barbecue before storing it for the winter. Cleaning paths and patios will help remove dirt, algae and mildew and reduce the risk of slipping and falling when the frost and ice arrives.
Prune Cut hedges and overgrown shrubs down to size. By cutting back the thick stems to just below the minimum optimum height you will make maintenance far easier in the spring.
Plant Now is the time to be planting spring flowering bulbs. With so many varieties to choose from be careful not to get too carried away with your purchases… all those bulbs need to be planted !!
Tidy the borders Autumn provides an ideal opportunity to move poorly placed plants and divide overcrowded perennials before the soil gets too cold and hard. Cut back faded perennials to 5cm above ground level, but don’t be too tidy - some perennials have attractive seed heads that look wonderful covered in autumn dew, and provide handsome winter silhouettes. Spread a thick layer of compost, bark chips or well rotted manure across your cleared borders but don’t worry too much about digging it in - let the worms do the hard work for you!
Give your lawn some TLCIt’s tradition to give lawns a pick-me-up in autumn, to revitalise them after dry summer weather and ensure they are fit enough to get through the winter. Make
sure you rake and dispose of the fallen leaves as they prevent light and air getting to your lawn.
Clean the greenhouse Try and keep it clean to make sure all light can enter and improve the growing environment for plants. Jeyes Fluid, a trusted garden disinfectant, will give that extra satisfactory clean and help the plants survive during the chill.
Feed the birds Now is the time to stock up on bird feed, clean the birdbath and make sure that the feeders are in good condition. As soon as the frosts appear the wildlife in our gardens needs a little helping hand. Feed them regularly and they will soon become a frequent visitor. Don’t forget to keep the bird bath toped up with fresh water and clear of algae and leaves.
Bird feeder & nest box available from
www.perfectplants.co.uk
Mid Kent Living 43
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