Quick Tips For An Autumn-Ready Garden⎟AD

*Disclosure – #AD. This a collaborative guest post.

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With autumn fast approaching, gardens are starting to look a bit tired. We’re not battling falling leaves quite yet, but there’s plenty to get on with so they’re not such a problem when they do fall.

Lots of us fall into the trap of simply abandoning the garden once the summer months are past. The trouble is, doing that means it’s way harder to make it look good again when next spring rolls round.

A few garden clearing tactics can make all the difference, leaving the garden looking great over winter and ready for family action next year.

 

Weed The Paths

Nothing ruins a good path like an overgrowth of weeds, and they spring up almost behind your back, getting a toe hold in the tiniest of crevices. Staying on top of them through the year is the best way of making sure they don’t have time to set seed and spread, but it’s never too late to have a blitz.

• Get as much of the root out as you can – dandelions are notorious for putting down deep roots and if you leave some behind the plant will regrow.
• Go round the flower borders and beds, digging out all the weeds you come across.
• Scrape away any moss that’s grown in shady places and pull out random grasses that sprout between slabs or bricks.

You can put leafy weeds in your home compost bin, but most compost advice is to avoid the roots. Those you can put in your composting council bin.

 

Harvest Plant Seeds

Growing plants from seed is even more rewarding than getting an instant splash of colour from a garden centre bedding plant purchase. Plus, it’s a great activity for kids to water them and watch them grow through spring.

But first, you need seeds.

• If you grew tomatoes, peas or French beans, these are relatively easy to harvest. Leave bean pods on the plant till they’re papery and brown, then pick them and leave them to dry. Once dry, remove the seeds and save them.
• With tomatoes, scoop out the seeds and spread them on kitchen paper to dry out.
• You can do the same with seeds from many flowers.

Put your harvested seeds in labelled paper envelopes and store them over winter in a cool, dark place. The fridge is good. You might not get as bumper a crop next year, but it’s well worth a go for the little effort it takes.

 

Care for Tools

Gardening tools don’t come cheap, especially power tools such as hedge trimmers and lawnmowers. 

When you’re sure you won’t need them again, give everything a good clean before you put it away in self-storage for the winter. A quick wipe with an oily rag over the moving parts of metal tools will help keep them rust-free.

Safe and secure storing for expensive tools can be a bit of a problem, especially when you’re also trying to store garden furniture. A self-storage room is a great solution. A lot of people these days are opting for seasonal storage, where they rotate possessions in storage according to the season. 

Overwintering summer gear means garages and sheds are kept clear for other things, and you don’t have a garden full of snow-covered loungers to look out on in freezing weather. Self-storage units are also a great answer for where to put garden toys like paddling pools, swings or climbing frames.

With a tidy garden, and all fair-weather tools and equipment safely stored away, the whole garden is clear for snowy fun – if we’re lucky enough to see some this year.