How to prepare your garden for autumn and winter – 8 simple jobs
A little preparation during autumn will help your plants, containers and garden structures cope with colder, wetter and windier weather.
There is no need to make the garden completely tidy. Leaving some stems, seed heads and sheltered areas undisturbed can provide food and protection for wildlife throughout winter.
Here are eight simple jobs to complete before the coldest weather arrives.
1. Tidy selectively
Remove collapsed, damaged or diseased plant material and add healthy material to your compost heap.
Leave sturdy perennial stems and seed heads where possible. They provide winter structure, food for birds and shelter for insects.
Clear slippery leaves and debris from paths, patios and steps.
2. Collect fallen leaves
Regularly remove leaves from lawns and ponds, where thick layers can block light and trap moisture.
Add suitable leaves to a separate leaf-mould pile or store them in a simple wire container. Over time, they will break down into a useful soil improver.
Leave small piles beneath hedges or in quiet corners to provide shelter for wildlife.
3. Mulch your borders
Apply a layer of well-rotted compost, leaf mould or another suitable organic mulch to bare soil.
Mulching helps protect the soil from heavy rain, reduces erosion and gradually improves its structure.
Keep mulch away from the stems and crowns of plants to reduce the risk of rotting.
4. Protect tender plants
Move tender container plants into a greenhouse, conservatory or another bright, frost-free position.
Plants remaining outdoors can be moved close to a sheltered wall and protected with horticultural fleece when frost is forecast.
Avoid feeding plants with nitrogen-rich fertiliser late in the season, as this encourages soft growth that is more vulnerable to cold weather.
5. Look after containers
Raise outdoor pots onto pot feet to improve drainage and prevent them from sitting in water.
Group containers together in a sheltered position for additional protection. Vulnerable pots can be wrapped with insulating material to help protect the roots.
Check containers occasionally during winter. The compost should not become completely dry, but avoid overwatering when plants are not actively growing.
6. Prepare your pond and wildlife areas
Remove excessive fallen leaves from ponds before they sink and begin to decay.
Avoid disturbing log piles, leaf piles and other sheltered spaces unnecessarily, as frogs, toads, newts, insects and hedgehogs may already be using them.
Keep birdbaths clean and filled with fresh water, and provide suitable food for garden birds as natural supplies become limited.
7. Check tools and structures
Clean soil from hand tools, remove any rust and lightly oil metal surfaces before storing them somewhere dry.
Drain and store hoses to reduce the risk of frost damage. Clean out water butts where necessary so they are ready to collect autumn rainfall.
Check fences, sheds, greenhouses, trellis and other structures for loose panels, damaged glazing or unstable sections before strong winter winds arrive.
8. Plant for the seasons ahead
Autumn is an excellent time to plant many trees, shrubs, perennials and spring-flowering bulbs because the soil remains relatively warm and moist.
Plant daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths during early autumn, with tulips usually planted later.
Water new plants thoroughly and continue checking them during dry weather while their roots become established.
Get your garden ready for winter
Completing a few manageable jobs during autumn will protect your garden and make it easier to enjoy when spring returns.
Visit Coletta & Tyson Garden Centre in Woodmansey, near Beverley and Hull, to explore our seasonal plants, compost, containers, tools and plant-protection essentials.