Autumn Gardening Jobs For The Upcoming Seasons
Autumn is a beautiful season in the UK, full of vibrant colours, crisp air and specific gardening tasks that need to be implemented to ensure the health of your landscape for future months. Proper maintenance and preparation during autumn are needed to ensure your garden remains healthy and attractive as we go through the colder months, as well as helping it burst back to life next spring.
Now that the kids are back in school and the days are turning shorter, it is time to get out your gardening tools and help get your landscape prepared for the upcoming end-of-year.
At S&D Paving & Landscaping, we have been providing expert services for almost two decades and continue to be a reliable landscaping solution in Surrey and the surrounding areas.
With our experience and passion for landscaping, we are sharing the key autumn gardening jobs you should start now to help your landscape flourish during the changing seasons.
Key Autumn Gardening Jobs 2024
The changing seasons are the ideal time to rejuvenate your garden and increase the maintenance you do. Autumn can be a beautiful season for our landscapes, but only if they are given the proper care.
As we are seeing the days grow shorter, trees shedding their leaves and the temperatures dropping now is the perfect time to get started on these autumn gardening jobs to give your landscape the best chance next spring:
1. Clear Fallen Leaves
Tools Needed: Rake, leaf blower, compost bin.
One of the most obvious autumn gardening jobs is dealing with fallen leaves. As autumn sets in, your garden will begin to be adorned with fallen leaves from surrounding trees and shrubs. While this can be a fairly picturesque scene, fallen leaves need to be removed as soon as possible as they cause a range of issues for your landscape.
Leaves can smother your lawn and attract pests, putting the rest of your garden at risk. This is why one of the main autumn gardening jobs is to diligently clear any fallen leaves and keep this up as the season progresses.
Using a rake or leaf blower, gather all the leaves into piles so they can be easily removed. Once the leaves have been gathered, you have the choice to convert them into compost for later use or apply them directly as mulch for your flower beds to help keep the rest of your garden healthy during the season.
2. Lawn Care
Tools Needed: Garden fork or aerator, autumn lawn fertiliser, grass seeds
Your lawn demands special attention during this season to give it a fighting chance. Autumn offers a golden opportunity to rejuvenate your lawn before the harshness of winter sets in.
There are three main autumn gardening jobs that you need to perform to protect your lawn and keep it looking its best through the end of the season.
Aerate
Aeration plays a vital role in autumn lawn management. Using a garden fork or an aerator, create small holes in the lawn enabling air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots and provide essential life to your lawn as the colder temperatures set in.
Fertilise
Once the lawn has been aerated, it will be easier to ensure each blade of grass receives the nutrients it needs to help it thrive throughout the coldest seasons. To fertilise the lawn during autumn, apply a potassium-rich, autumn-specific fertiliser.
This kind of fertiliser will enhance the grass’s strength and disease resistance during the coldest temperatures, ensuring a lush, green space next spring.
Overseed
Finally, overseeding the lawn during the autumn is a great way to take care of any bare patches that may have appeared over the busy summer months and ensure a full, vibrant lawn next year.
Overseed with grass seeds on thin or bare patches and ensure that the area is well watered and undisturbed for as long as possible to facilitate new grass growth.
3. Pruning Shrubs and Trees
Tools Needed: Pruning shears, loppers, saw.
Pruning your shrubs and trees is another one of the most critical autumn gardening tasks. This can be done using pruning shears, loppers, and saws – based on the kind of trees you are dealing with.
In many cases, you can prune trees and shrubs for autumn on your own, but additional help from landscapers may be needed if you are dealing with particularly large or overgrown plants.
Using sharp tools, carefully remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches from the trees, ensuring a close, clean cut for maximum health.
Proper pruning not only maintains the shape of your shrubs and trees during the autumn and winter seasons but also promotes healthy growth. Doing this as part of your autumn gardening jobs will help to prepare your trees and shrubs for their winter dormancy.
4. Plant Spring Bulbs
Tools Needed: Trowel, bulb planter, compost.
Autumn is the best time to lay the groundwork for a colourful spring garden, which is why planting is one of the best autumn gardening jobs to get started now.
Spring bulbs, including daffodils, tulips, and crocuses, can be planted during this period to ensure your garden will be vibrant and busy come the warmer weather next year.
While planting, you need to make sure that you are adding bulbs to a well-drained spot. To do this, dig holes to triple the depth of the bulb, plant the bulb, and then cover it with soil after placing it pointed end up. Water the bulb lightly during the season and wait for the colours to appear next year.
5. Mulching
Tools Needed: Wood chips, straw, compost
Mulching is another key autumn gardening job, as it protects your plants and soil during the cold months.
Organic mulch like wood chips, straw, and compost are the most accessible and affordable options, making them ideal for all landscapes. Spread the mulch around perennials, trees, and shrubs to insulate the roots and maintain soil moisture throughout the season.
When mulching, especially with organic materials, you need to avoid piling it against plant stems as this could lead to rot and cause more issues across your landscape.
6. Clean and Store Garden Tools
Tools Needed: Wire brush, blade sharpener, shed or similar dry storage space
Proper maintenance of your gardening tools substantially increases their longevity and performance, which is why it is one of the most essential autumn gardening tasks to perform this season.
Cleanliness and maintenance are imperative to maintaining the lifespan of you gardening tols and now is the perfect time to get them organised ahead of the new spring season.
Use water and a wire brush to clean all your garden tools before storing them. Also take some time to sharpen any blades and oil any moving parts, to ensure they are in prime condition ahead of their winter storage.
Following this cleaning and care, securely store your gardening tools in a dry, sheltered place such as a garden shed.
7. Tidy Up Flower Beds
Tools Needed: Gardening gloves, hand fork, compost bin
During autumn, you will need to spend some time tidying up any flower beds that are present in your garden.
For this crucial autumn gardening task, you first need to remove spent annuals and weeds. This can be done by hand or using small gardening forks to prevent disturbing the soil, and any spent flowers can be added to the compost bin.
Any overgrown perennials can be dug up, divided, and replanted back into the flower beds for better growth and plant health management next spring.
8. Protect Delicate Plants
Tools Needed: Fleece or burlap wraps, cold frames
As the temperatures begin to dip, some delicate plants might need extra protection to help them survive the winter.
In such cases, moving potted plants indoors or to a sheltered spot can be beneficial for your overall landscape.
Sensitive plants can be covered with fleece or burlap, and cloches or cold frames can be used for added protection when they are needed the most.
9. Prepare the Greenhouse
Tools Needed: Glass cleaner, plant pots and trays
If you have a greenhouse, now’s the time to get it winter-ready.
Spend some time this season performing autumn gardening tasks such as cleaning the glass to maximise light, checking heaters and ventilation, and organising pots, trays, and tools to give your greenhouse plants the best chance to make it through the coldest months of the year.
10. Planning and Preparing for Spring
Tools Needed: Gardening calendar or diary, seeds, creativity
Lastly, use the serenity of autumn to plan a successful spring garden and give yourself a head start on the upcoming seasons.
Use this time to review the successes and challenges of your gardening experience this year, as this can help you make better decisions next year. As things begin to wind down and more time is spent indoors, you can begin to plan your planting schedule for the upcoming year and get inspiration for your new landscape design.
Once you have a plan in the works, you can get started ordering seeds and plants to ensure a smooth gardening journey in the new year.
Conclusion
Completing these autumn gardening jobs will not only keep your garden looking its best but also set the stage for a vibrant and healthy landscape in the spring.
At S&D Paving & Landscaping, we are passionate about helping you achieve a beautiful garden all year round. Our team of experts is always ready to offer professional advice and services tailored to your needs.
Contact Us Today
For personalised tips and professional landscaping services, contact us today to book a consultation. Enjoy the beauty of your garden each season with confidence and ease with S&D Paving & Landscaping on your side.
