3 Tips for Preparing Your Garden for Autumn

With summer coming to a close, it’s time to start thinking about the best ways to get your garden ready for the months ahead. September is arguably one of the most important months in a gardener’s calendar, as the weather is still warm enough to sow new plants and there’s enough time to prepare before the temperatures start to drop. Here are three things that should be on your to-do list.

Give Your Lawn a Fresh Start

Whether it’s from the kids playing football over the last few months or you hosting more garden parties than usual, your lawn can take a battering over the summer. If you’re starting to notice a few bare patches, don’t worry. There are a number of ways you can get your lawn back to its best. Allow the grass to grow a little longer than usual, at least three inches, as continually mowing a lawn short puts extra stress on the roots. Next, pick up some fertiliser to give your lawn the nutrients it needs to thrive. Nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium are the most important ingredients.

Start Planting Your Next Batch of Veggies

In the early weeks of the fall, you’ll find that the ground is still warm enough to accommodate many different types of plants and vegetables, including root crops like turnips or even certain varieties of asparagus. You’ll want to make sure any seeds are sown by early Autumn, though, so that any plants are well-established by the time the cold weather arrives. Spinach, spring cabbage, and kale are all great choices because they grow relatively quickly and you can easily pluck the leaves and use them in your home cooking. You could even try experimenting with Asian ingredients like komatsuna or mizuna to add some new flavours to your menu this winter.

Remove Any Unwanted Plants

Finally, now is the ideal time to get rid of any diseased, or otherwise unwanted, plants. If left alone, these may start to develop a harmful fungus that could spread. If you have a tree or stump that you want removed, you’ll need to contact a specialist like UK Landscapes to ensure the process is taken care of correctly. Similarly, if you have any non-deciduous trees, or evergreens, which don’t lose their leaves during the colder months of the year, you may want to consider thinning them out yourself. By allowing more light to pass into your home, you may even reduce your reliance on central heating and lower your energy bills.