AUTUMN GARDENING TIPS

AUTUMN GARDENING TIPS

While it may seem tempting to curl up on the couch on chilly days, autumn can be a great time to get out in your garden before winter sets in. Below are four tips to help care for your garden over autumn.



1. Make a vegetable patch



Although autumn may seem to be the wrong time of year to be planting in your garden, many plants actually thrive over the cooler months, including some great winter veggies. Planting cabbage, broccoli, celery and leeks in autumn, can provide you with fresh ingredients for hearty meals as the weather gets colder. Cultivating a vegetable patch is also a great way to get your kids involved in the garden. It teaches them the benefits of growing your own vegetables and they'll love getting their hands dirty.



2. Plant colour for autumn, and plan for spring



Autumn is also a great time to plant colourful blooms such as pansies and paper daises, so that when winter rolls around, they are in full bloom and your garden has a warming splash of colour. You can also plan for spring in autumn. April to May is the perfect time to plant spring flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, and freesias.



3. Get on top of your pruning



Pruning shrubs, bushes and trees is another important gardening task in autumn. Pruning plants encourages new growth, and can help to shape trees, and prevent long branches from breaking. Pruning can also give your garden a neater look throughout winter when branches are often bare.



4. Cover up with mulch



Covering your soil with mulch will stop it from eroding, keep it moist and prevent weeds from growing. This means less work for you! If you are inclined, you may even consider making your own compost, using food scraps from the kitchen to add extra nutrients to your soil. Compost is an inexpensive way to make sure your soil stays healthy all year round.