Picture: Supplied
As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, autumn brings with it a unique charm and a golden opportunity for gardeners to prepare their gardens for the upcoming winter. Embracing the beauty of Autumn, here are some indispensable tips and ideas to keep your garden vibrant and thriving during this transitional season.
1. Clean Up the Garden
Begin by giving your garden a thorough clean-up. Remove any spent annuals, fallen leaves, and dead plant material. This not only helps in maintaining a tidy appearance but also prevents the spread of diseases and pests. The GARDENA range of cleaning products will make all clearing and clearing projects easy and effortless. Once you are done with the trimming, cart away all garden debris using the GARDENA Mobile Cart. Remove the refuse bag and the cart can be used for non-gardening tasks as well. Use it to transport heavy loads up to 170kg. The GARDENA leaf and lawn collector is perfect for clearing up leaves without bending your back. Collection bag collects up to 45litre
Handy tip: Utilize the garden waste for compost. Leaves, grass clippings, and vegetable scraps make excellent compost material, providing rich nutrients for your soil.
2. Planting for Spring
Autumn is the perfect time to plant spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils. Planting them in Autumn, ensures they have ample time to develop roots before the ground freezes. Follow the recommended planting depth and spacing for each bulb type. Generally, bulbs should be planted three times as deep as their height. GARDENA has designed a Bulb Planter that will lessen the time required to plant and make it easy and convenient. The trigger action on the planter allows you to dig up creating a cavity and holding the soil in the product. Once you have placed the bulb in the ground, simply release the trigger to place the soil back into the cavity, covering the bulb.
3. Protecting Perennials
Cut back perennials to about 15 cm from the ground. This helps protect the plants from harsh winter conditions and encourages healthier growth in the spring.
Handy Tip: Apply a layer of mulch around the base of perennials, shrubs, and trees. Mulching helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and protect roots from temperature fluctuations.
4. Lawn Care
Autumn is an ideal time to care for your lawn. Rake up fallen leaves regularly to prevent them from smothering the grass. Aerate the lawn to improve soil drainage and reduce compaction. This allows water, nutrients, and oxygen to reach the grassroots more effectively. The GARDENA combisystem range of rakes and lawn care products will help you save money. Simply purchase one handle that can fit multiple tools. Select your tool of choice, attach to the handle and you are ready for your gardening task.
Handy Tip: Use a slow release Nitrogen fertiliser to strengthen the grass roots and enhance their resistance to winter stress.
5. Pruning and Trimming
Prune dead or diseased branches from trees and shrubs. This not only improves their appearance but also prevents potential damage from winter storms. GARDENA has carefully designed a range of cutting tools to tackle any type of pruning or trimming project.
Handy tip: Pruning at the right time is essential, generally after the leaves have fallen but before the first frost.
6. Vegetable Garden Preparation
If you enjoy growing your own vegetables, Autumn is the time to clear our spent vegetable plants. Turn the soil and add compost. This enriches the soil with organic matter and prepares it for next planting season. Autumn is also a good time to plant winter vegetables.
Handy Tips: Winter vegetables that can be planted in Autumn are Kale, Spinach, Carrots, Cauliflower, Beetroot and cabbage. Ask your local nursery for their recommendations.
7. Winter Protection for Delicate Plants
Move potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area to protect them from frost. Water plants thoroughly before the first frost to ensure they are well-hydrated and better equipped to withstand cold temperatures. During Autumn and Winter reduce your irrigation as plant require less water. GARDENA has a range of water controls that will automate the irrigation process. Simply set the time, duration of watering, days of the week and your timer will automatically switch on, irrigate your garden and switch off once done.
Handy Tip: Install frost covers over your delicate plants in Autumn to protect them over the winter period.
8. Wildlife-Friendly Garden
Create a habitat for wildlife by leaving some areas of the garden undisturbed. The GARDENA ClickUp! Range consisting of an Insect hotel, bird feeder and Bird bath will provide food and shelter for birds and beneficial insects.
Handy Tip: GARDENA ClickUp! Range can be used in gardens using the handle or balcony and terrace using the BalconyClamp.
10. Harvesting and Storing
Harvest late-season crops like pumpkins, squash, and root vegetables before the first frost. Store them in a cool, dry place to enjoy throughout the winter months.
Handy Tip: Dry or freeze herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage to preserve their flavour for culinary use during winter. Check out the GARDENA MicroCutting range specially designed for harvesting herbs.
Autumn gardening is extremely rewarding and sets the stage for a healthy and beautiful garden year-round. By embracing the seasonal changes and carrying out these tasks, you can ensure your garden remains a vibrant and thriving sanctuary, ready to burst into life again in the spring.
Also see: The hidden benefits of growing bay leaves in your garden
