SoGlos rounds up eight of the best things to do in your garden in Gloucestershire this autumn…
Prepare your garden for winter
As fall approaches, it’s a good idea to raise your mower blades when tending to your lawn, to keep the grass longer. This will help thicken your grass and protect the roots from winter frost and snow.
If your garden is in need of a little extra love after hot summer weather, focus on giving your outdoor area some water retention. This can be done by adding organic matter to the garden to help with soil structure for the following year. In shrub borders, a layer of bark chips can help reduce weeds, retain water and warmth for the winter, and add nutrients from the bark when it begins to rot.
Get fertilized
As the leaves fall throughout the season, grab a rake and start gathering compost. Not only is it an easy way to reduce landfill waste, composting is great for your garden, too. Leaf compost is full of nutrients that make it ideal for use as a weed repellent and to conserve moisture.
Be sure to dispose of diseased plant material by burning it or placing it with your household waste, and do not compost it as spores may remain in it and infect the plants.
Planting spring flowers
It may seem obvious, but plant spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths now, and hyacinth bulbs and amaryllis for effect, to ensure a crowd of colorful blooms at Christmas!
Early fall is also a good time to plant new perennials as the soil is still warm but there is generally more rainfall. With the arrival of wet weather this month, it’s the perfect time to order trees and shrubs. They will grow vigorously next spring if planted this fall.
Get pruned
Fall is a good time to prune trees and shrubs to remove any dead, diseased or damaged wood. This allows enough healing time for the plant before the worst of winter weather hits the wounds.
Cut back perennials that have faded or leave dead foliage in place for winter wildlife. Lift and divide any overcrowded herbaceous perennials while the soil is still warm.
Wrap your plants
At the first warning of frost, usually between September and November, wrap your trees for winter with tree guards, which are great for protection from rodent damage, and be sure to cover your plants and vegetables to avoid damaging frosts.
The best materials for this include wool, hessian, fern, straw and polystyrene. These work well to insulate plants from cold or wind.
Set up your greenhouse
Move tender plants into the greenhouse to protect them from early frosts but make sure there is enough space between them to keep them well ventilated and reduce the risk of disease.
It may also be a good idea to install solar-powered lights in the greenhouse so you can go out on dark evenings to check on your plants. Insulate with sheets of bubble wrap taped to the inside of the frame to reduce heat loss, and don’t forget to ventilate the greenhouse, especially after watering and when using paraffin heaters at night.
Attract feathered friends
Invest in bird baths and bird feeders this fall — and be sure to remove snow during cold weather so birds can continue to get water.
Not only are they a great way to connect with nature, but birds are also gardener-friendly and will reduce the number of pests, such as caterpillars and aphids.
Get fodder
Depending on what you’re growing in the garden, the end of summer and beginning of fall is a great time to forage.
For example, in early autumn, as soon as the petals fell, the dog roseone of the basic elements of the fence, A bright red berry appears, this is the rosehip. This can be used for rosehip syrup, tea, vinegar, oil and much more.