Autumn/winter garden tips

Many of us have spent lots more time than usual in our gardens this year, and it’s easy to tell. With so many well-kept gardens, new furniture and new landscaping, it’s important that we continue to work on our gardens to maintain the good work that has been put in over the last six months.

So, wrap up and spend time in the fresh air to look after your garden over autumn and winter with our top tips.

Grow some winter vegetables

There’s nothing better than a bowl of warming vegetable soup during the colder months, and what better than soup made with your own home-grown vegetables?

Perpetual spinach planted in autumn will keep you topped up with leaves for soups, stews and casseroles throughout winter and into spring and summer.

Planting spring onions now will mean that you will have the fresh vegetable ready by early spring – a great addition to soups, stews and winter salads.

Onions are easy to grow over autumn and winter. Be prepared for the long growing season of onions, as these will still be in the ground when you start planting other crops in the spring time but will be ready to use come summer.

Like onions, garlic have a long growing season but once planted, need very little attention. Come summer, you will have plenty of fresh garlic to use when al-fresco dining.

If you have a greenhouse, there are many other types of crop you can grow from autumn onwards. Carrots, namely the Adelaide variety, can be grown in greenhouses and have the potential to be ready as soon as November.

Planting hardy flowers

Start planting spring flowering bulbs now in containers, borders and greenhouses. Sweet rocket, crocuses, daffodils and snowdrops can be planted now, and tulip bulbs should be planted in November once the soil temperature has cooled down.

If you have dahlias, continue to de-head these regularly to prolong flowering until the first frosts. If you want to plant some roses, these should be planted in the autumn before the first frost.

Create your own compost

Rake leaves that have fallen in your garden to make homemade leaf mould – this may take some time but can be spread on borders and flowerbeds to increase the quality of the soil. It is important to rake leaves regularly to discourage the formation of dry, brown patches and the growth of moss. To maintain your grass quality, mow this for the last time around the start of November.

Making your own compost now will be a great addition to your garden come spring. Remember to recycle food scraps – these make up as much as 30% of household waste and is much more environmentally friendly when turned to compost. Add some carbon-rich matter like branches, leaves, sawdust pellets and coffee groups to nitrogen or protein-rich matter like food scraps, manures, grass and leaves, and watch your compost thrive. Once a pile has been created, keep it moist and cover with things like wood or plastic sheeting, and turn every few weeks to ensure the pile is aerated.

Bring vulnerable plants indoors

As the weather gets colder, bring in any tender or half-hardy plants indoors. With recent interior trends focusing on bringing the outdoors and greenery indoors, what better way to spruce up your living space than with a bit of your garden as the days get colder?

For bulbs, compost and gardening tools, we like to visit our local Parkhill Garden Centre. The garden centre is offering an online order and delivery service too.