Seasonal Switch: How to Get Your Garden Autumn‑Ready in a Weekend
A first hint of the turning of the season, chilly evenings, and that first sparkle of dew on dawn mornings, is often sufficient to remind you that the garden needs a moment of work. A weekend once-over might be all it requires to have it back on track before autumn really gets going. With preplanning, lots can be achieved off the list in a couple of days, even if the very idea of 'garden prep' never crosses your mind while gazing at the computer monitor.
This guide is here to help with cleaning up, looking ahead, and even doing a bit of the winter work, all without having to spend hours outdoors in the cold.
Clear Out the Clutter
Begin with a good once-over of the garden. Take note of what’s out of condition, wilting flowers, broken pots, abandoned tools, or that toy that’s still sitting in the same spot after months of telling the kids to pick it up and put it away. The removal of the overt debris leads you to decide what’s next on the list.
Bits of branch, scuds of leaves, and garden rubbish in general can sneak in quickly and leave everything looking very neglected. A quick clear-up is in order. If you have a leaf blower, it is the perfect time to haul it out. It is good at getting into awkward places and is gentle on the back if you have a large garden.
As you're cleaning, sweep the patio and clear the paths. It’s incredible how those little details can leave everything looking refreshed. A swift once-over outside is much more appealing once all the outside spaces look tidy and maintained.
Cut Back and Clean Up
Once the clutter is removed, it’s time for a spot of cutting back. Cutting back is best done during autumn. A light prune keeps everything looking smart and gives the plants the very best chance of healthy growth next year.
Snip off what’s gone flowering and trim herbs down that have become a bit wayward. Be warned, however, is some greenery being left until next spring? If you're not absolutely certain, always check first before producing the secateurs.
While you're doing that, take a glance at the edges of the lawn. If they've started to flag, it can be worthwhile to straighten them out and perk the rest of the garden up. And if the grass is dry, have it lightly cut, don't scalp it, of course.
A first whiff of the change of season, cold evenings, and that early sparkle of dew in the mornings is usually enough to nudge you into thinking that the garden could do with a spot of attention. A once-over on the weekend may be all it requires to restore it to order before autumn properly takes hold.
Protect What Matters
Once everything is presentable, it’s time to think of protection. Cooler nights lie ahead, and anything finicky is going to need very special care. Move container plants that don’t like the cold into sheltered sites, such as a wall or into a greenhouse if you have one.
Raising pots off the ground with bricks or stands minimizes waterlogged roots. Clumping them together keeps them warmer, and it is easy to throw a covering over them in case of frost.
This is also the time of year to get your tools sorted. Give them a good cleaning off and store them in a dry location. Likewise, with garden furniture, if it’s not being used, give it a quick cleaning off and decent covering, and it’ll last longer.
Inject a Jab of Colour
While summer flowers are past, your garden doesn’t have to be dull. Spring bulbs like tulips, daffodils, crocuses, and hyacinths can be planted at this time of year. Do it now, and you’ll be treated to flower colour once the days start elongating.
They're low maintenance and easy to plant. Just be sure to plant at the right depth, three times the height of the bulb, and choose good drainage locations.
Got children at home? Get them involved with planting as part of spending the morning together. But be warned, worm spotting may take over halfway through.
Conservation of Wildlife
As it becomes harder to obtain food, the garden can be a haven for birds, insects and wildlife. Hanging feeders, leaving fat balls out, or sowing some seeds can keep them going through the winter. They gift you their presence when you make the area a welcoming space. And watching them at the window on dreary days brightens them up. Seeing the relaxed way nature perseveres and makes decisions.
Leave feeders away from where sneaky predators might just be lurking, and refill them as frequently as you can. If birds know they can count on having grub available all the time, you’ll get repeat visitors guaranteed.
Finishing Touches
If you've got any energy left at the end of the weekend, give your garden some finishing touches, and it'll be able to get through the cold months.
You can light dark evenings with solar lights, and an outside bench with a couple of throws means you can still utilise your outside space, even if only for the occasional five-minute break.
A compost bin is a good investment, as well. Those leaves and clippings can be dumped right in. A first-time composter only needs a bin and a decent balance of green and brown material.
Make It Work for You
One of the pleasures of having the weekend in your garden is that it doesn’t have to be flashy. You're not redoing it all, you're just loving it on through autumn, on into winter.
And once it’s all sorted, you can stand back feeling it’s neat, it’s safe, it’s ready for whatever’s next. When the sun feels like showing itself, the garden’ll be waiting. A couple of hours invested now make the rest of the season more relaxed and more of a pleasure.
