It’s been a slightly damp summer so far, but warmer temperatures could be just around the corner. No matter whether you’re growing luscious greens or colourful flowerbeds, there are still a few things you can do to make sure your garden thrives throughout the season.
And as we head towards more autumnal conditions, ensuring the health of your plants now is important. Whether you’re a beginner in the garden or you’ve been green-fingered for seasons, it’s always worth knowing how to keep your bounty healthy through the last months of summer and into autumn.
Getting your garden ready for autumn: Eight top tips
- Stay on top of the watering
Keep watering your plants throughout the summer, but make sure you avoid over-watering too. It might be easy to forget to keep the lawn and garden watered after a bout of summer showers, but hydration is key to the longevity of your crops.
- Grow some vegetables
Through the last few summer months, growing vegetables could be a wonderful way to spend time with your family. From planting to harvesting, growing your own veg is certainly a fantastic way to keep your children occupied and teach them about sustainable food practices too.
All you need to do is plant some vegetable seeds in your greenhouse, polytunnel or veg patch – and then hope for some sunshine too!
- Make and spread mulch
Mulch is a moist material that helps your lawn to stay healthy, and you can make your own using leaves. Choose a sheltered corner of your garden and make a large bin or hole in which to collect and store fallen leaves. After around two years, the decomposing leaves will turn into lovely mulch that can boost the health of your lawn.
- Control the weeds
With the warmer temperatures, unwanted plants might start to thrive in your garden too. You can keep the weeds at bay by trimming them back, plucking them from between the patio slabs, or using a chemical solution. We’d suggest using chemicals only as a last-resort approach, as this could potentially harm the sensitive ecosystem in your garden.
- Start planting autumn bulbs
Bulbs can be incredibly rewarding. Many types are easy to grow, and with a varied selection you could enjoy different types of flowers for each month of the year. And if you have a quaint patio area in your garden, make sure you learn how to plant bulbs in a pot. This is one way to guarantee a characterful and colourful display in a few months.
- Bring vulnerable plants indoors
If you have any sensitive or tender plants in your garden, it could be time to bring them into the safety of your greenhouse or conservatory. And if you’re bringing them from the garden to the home, make sure you check the compost for small bugs, snails, and flies first.
- Harvest summer crops
Don’t forget to harvest the summer crops while you’re busy with autumn garden prep! From tomatoes to radishes to leafy greens in the herb garden, there’s an amazing variety of plants that can be harvested throughout the season. Certain cut-and-come-again varieties mean you can keep enjoying pickings from the same crop for weeks too.
- Get clean and tidy
Lastly, the end of summer offers a perfect opportunity to brush down the patio, rake the lawn, and give your decking and furniture a deep clean. Doing this now might feel burdensome, but it’ll certainly save you some discomfort once the temperature drops. And you can keep enjoying your garden for longer – right until it’s just a bit too chilly.
With some simple and regular maintenance through the late summer months, you can keep your garden looking beautiful. Remember to wear gloves when you’re using sharp shears or scissors, and don’t forget to keep watering!
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