The arrival of autumn does not mean the end of garden work. On the contrary, we should properly prepare our garden before the frosts. What autumn garden care treatments do we need to remember?
Autumn cleaning in the garden is time-consuming, but necessary. Thanks to them, the garden will survive the winter. Before the winter months, we should remember first of all to remove fallen leaves, mow the lawn and trim tree branches. Sensitive shrubs and perennials should be covered to protect them from frost, and moisture-loving plants should be watered generously. What other work needs to be done in the garden before winter?
September and October (possibly November) is the perfect time to plant bulbous plants in the garden, which will bloom in the spring. If you want to delight in snowdrops or crocuses after winter, plant them in autumn. During the autumn months it is also worth planting narcissus, tulips, sapphires, hyacinths, anemones and ornamental garlic. When choosing bulbs, pay attention that they are not dried out, discolored or damaged, without covering scales.
In the garden in autumn, we can also sow seeds of plants that bloom in late spring and summer, for example cornflower, bittercress or California gilt.
We fertilize ornamental plants until the end of August. In September, we can carry out lawn fertilization for the last time. For this purpose, it is worth using a mixture containing phosphorus and potassium, specially designed for this time of year. Such a preparation regenerates the grass and increases its resistance to disease and frost. However, remember to water the plants regularly. Although the heat is rarely hot in autumn, there are days without rain. Especially evergreen and coniferous plants should be watered so that they can store water in their tissues. During dry, rainless days, the garden is watered until the ground freezes.
The autumn season spent in the garden is primarily associated with harvesting. September and October are the best time for harvesting fruits, vegetables and seeds. In autumn we harvest apples, pears, plums, cabbage and root vegetables – carrots, beets, parsley, onions and potatoes. It is also worth collecting herbs or rosehips and hawthorn fruits, from which we will prepare tincture. The beginning of autumn is also an excellent time to harvest hazelnuts and walnuts.
In order to improve soil structure and hydration, it is worth digging up the plot. This should be done in November at the latest. Autumn is also a good time to remove weeds and trim plants. Careful pruning will help prevent possible growth during temporary warming. At the end of November we can trim garden vines.
In autumn, we must also not forget about the numerous cleaning works in the garden. First of all, we must regularly rake the leaves that fall on the beds and lawn. Lingering leaves cause yellowing and rotting of stretches of grass, leading to the formation of holes in the lawn.
Until the first frost, let’s also take care to mow the lawn (even if it’s already November). Before the winter months arrive, the grass should be cut to a height of about 5 cm.
If our garden is decorated with a pond, we should harvest water plants that are not resistant to frost even before the first frost. Let’s also regularly collect fallen leaves on the water surface.
main photo: pixabay.com/Irina_kukuts
