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Seasonal gardening By Rosie Bunney


It’s that lovely time of year when you eat the results of your garden, fight the weeds with some hope of winning, and start planning for the dawn of spring. Some would say the end of the gardening year is more cathartic than the start.


Colour me beautiful


Scatter bulbs so they emerge in spring in a way nature intended. Plant winter pansies for their cheery outlook on life, and wallflowers for their scent and old-world charm. Don’t forget Forget- me-nots, and that’s your spring sorted.


Laying down the lawn


The very best thing about autumn is that you get to scarify your lawn: raking up all that moss is ridiculously satisfying. Aerating is fun too – especially if you can justify hiring a machine to do the job.


Tree time


Where could you fit a tree? Squint at the garden and picture what new height and varied colours could do to spice things up. Choose a flowering tree like an amelanchia grandiflora and you get autumn colours too.


Nice as pie


Pick your apples and pears before they drop, and then think rhubarb. If you divide your crowns now you get more plants. More plants means more pie. Custard or cream? It’s your call.


Water feature


It’s good to dismantle pumps in ponds. Clean them and wrap so they emerge from the shed in spring ready to spout. Algae is the enemy of happy spraying.


Butting the trend


Use any water left in your butt then give it a good scrub and pressure hose. We can’t assume anything about the weather these days but it’s good to be prepared.


Recycle


Pick a sunny September afternoon to build a cage for autumn leaves. Chicken wire will do it and you can trap the fallers and use them, once rotted, as compost.


Autumn clean


Tackle the greenhouse while being in it is still an attractive prospect. Leaks, split panes or dodgy catches should be mended so it’s ready for action.


Chit chat


Invite a friend for coffee and brainstorm planting ideas. If you’re stuck, break open last year’s sloe gin.


September and October 2018


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