Photo: Dobbies

As the nights start to draw in, it’s time to up your autumn gardening, and get everything prepared, before winter sets in.

Autumn is the perfect opportunity to get rid of all the dead vegetation left over from the summer months. While tidying borders and clearing out gutters is essential as we get ready for the onset of those rainy, windy days.

Josh Novell, director of Polhill Garden Centre in Kent, shares his top autumn gardening tips to prepare for winter.

Autumn clean up

Grab that rake, broom and gloves, and start sweeping out plant debris and disposing of waste on your lawn, bedding and greenhouse. Cleaning debris from your garden will help brighten up the area, which will make your garden look fresh and prepared for winter.

Tidy borders

Now is a great time to start doing the hard work: dig up those annuals and plant your beds with pansies and wallflowers to ensure a vibrant display next spring.

Cut back faded perennials to 5cm above ground level, but don’t worry about making them too tidy – attractive seed heads are great for insects and look wonderful when covered in autumn dew.

Spreading compost, bark or manure across your borders will ensure your plants have the nutrients they need for winter.

Treat your lawn

Remove moss and mulch with your rake, and add them to a compost heap – use moss killer first if you’ve got a lot on your lawn. Then, brush in a sandy top dressing followed by autumn lawn feed, to keep the grass healthy and strong throughout the winter months.

Plant evergreens

Fill in gaps in your borders with evergreens such as Azaleas and Rhododendrons. Both shrubs will add a splash of vibrant colour to your garden. Or opt for Skimmias, whose evergreen leaves provide contrast to their fragrant white flowers in April and May, and long-lasting winter berries.

Start autumn pruning

Get started on your autumn pruning – target shrubs that are ready to be pruned and any herbaceous plants that need cutting back. Pruning helps to maintain the shape of your plants and greenery whilst also encouraging growth. To do this, simply cut back any spent growth using shears or scissors.

It’s also a good time to check if any deadheading has been missed during the summer months. Rather than cutting directly under the flower head, the best way to do this is to cut to just above a bud or leaf node.

Clear out compost bins

Autumn is the ideal time to clear out old compost and use it around the garden, making room for this year’s waste.

If the compost isn’t quite ready, turn it to improve decomposition and create a new heap next to it for fresh organic matter.

Prevent pond debris

Decomposing leaves can turn your pond water foul and block filters on pumps.

To prevent this happening, spread a fine-meshed net across the pond and pin it down with something sturdy, such as bricks or heavy stones.

You can then easily remove any leaves on the mesh and add them to your leaf mould or compost heap.

All these tips will help to spruce up your garden throughout the autumn period, while making sure it’s ready for the colder, wetter weather winter brings, ready to bloom again next spring.

When should I start planting for a spring garden?

As summer slowly drifts off, now is the perfect time to start preparing for your spring blooms.

Nigel Lawton, Dobbies Garden Centres’ Plant Buyer explains why now is the perfect time to start planting.

“Planting bulbs now will enable you to enjoy the colours of spring earlier, they’ll work their magic over winter and burst into colour as early as February. Daffodils, tulips and crocuses are all great for adding life to beds, borders and containers while providing vital food for pollinators.

For maximum impact, Nigel recommends layered planting, also known as lasagne planting. He explains: “By planting different spring bulbs in tiers within the same pot, you’ll extend the life of your display and enjoy waves of flowers all season long.

“Place the largest, latest-flowering bulbs at the bottom, such as tulips, followed by narcissus and finish with crocuses near the top. With a little planning, your containers will deliver non-stop colour from late winter right through spring.”

What bulbs should I plant in September?

As mentioned, daffodils, crocuses and tulips, as well as hyacinths are all ideal for planting in spring. This is because they need time to root before winter kicks in, ensuring a bright and early display next spring.

We chatted to experts at Trexpro to get some inside knowledge.

To plant the bulbs, dig a hole 2-3 times the bulb’s depth, before placing the bulb pointy side up and covering with soil. Make sure to water if the soil is dry when planting. How far apart you space the bulb depends on the variety chosen, so make sure to check the packet for guidance.

Daffodils

While daffodils signal the start of spring, they are best planted in September. This is because the soil is still warm from summer, and this encourages quick root development ahead of the colder weather.

This also gives them plenty of time to be well-anchored and therefore settle. Planting any later will risk weaker root growth and fewer flowers when spring arrives.

After planting, give them a good water to help the soil settle. From here, the rainfall during autumn and winter should be enough for maintenance, but if there is an unusual dry spell you should water occasionally. Other than that, daffodils can be left alone over winter.

Crocuses

Crocuses also need time to develop strong roots befort the weather cools at the end of the year. Planting in September means they’re ready to give a burst of colour in time for spring. Well-drained soil is important as the roots can rot easily.

Again, crocuses are low maintenance and shouldn’t need any watering during autumn and winter unless it’s unusually dry. No special care is needed.

Hyacinths

Just like with the other two plants, planting hyacinths in September allows them to establish roots before the cold sets in. A strong root system ensures a fuller, longer-lasting bloom and hyacinths benefit from a cold period before flowering in the spring.

Make sure to water them well straight after planting to help the soil to settle, and leave over autumn and winter. The usual amount of rainfall at this time of year should be enough to maintain them.

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