After a long, very hot summer, all gardens may be looking a little tired. Dry lawns, thirsty borders and heat-stressed plants can all benefit from some extra care and attention. The good news is your garden can recover beautifully and look refreshed and healthy once more.
As we head further into autumn, October is the perfect time to give your garden some much-needed TLC. With cooler temperatures and wetter weather returning, a little preparation now can help your garden recover, look its best and be ready for the colder months ahead.
Give Your Lawn Some Love
A dry summer can leave lawns looking brown, patchy and a little worse for wear. Autumn is an ideal time to help your lawn recover while the soil is still warm and there is usually more moisture available.
Start by removing fallen leaves and debris and give the lawn a gentle rake to clear away dead grass. If the soil has become hard and compacted, aerating it can help water, air and nutrients reach the roots more effectively.
Autumn is also an ideal time to repair bare patches using a product such as Miracle-Gro Patch Magic and give your lawn a suitable feed, such as Westland’s Aftercut All in One Autumn Lawn Feed & Moss Killer. With cooler temperatures and more seasonal rainfall, grass has the perfect conditions to strengthen, recover and establish itself before winter.
Refresh Your Borders
Summer heat can take its toll on flower beds and borders, leaving plants looking weary and foliage scorched. Remove faded flowers, dead leaves and damaged growth to give your borders a fresh, tidy appearance.
October is also a good time to add a layer of compost or well-rotted organic matter around your plants. Adding a layer of mulch such as Magic Mulch by RocketGro is another simple way to protect your borders.
This can help improve the soil, retain moisture and provide nutrients for the months ahead.
Help Heat-Stressed Plants Recover
If some of your plants are still showing signs of heat stress, don’t be too quick to remove them. Brown or damaged leaves can be carefully removed, but many plants will recover with the right care.
Where conditions remain dry, give plants a good, thorough watering, directing the water towards the soil around the roots. This is more beneficial than a quick sprinkle over the surface.
Keep an eye on newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials in particular, as their root systems may still be establishing and they can be more vulnerable to dry conditions.
Add Some Autumn Colour
Once you’ve tidied your garden, October is a wonderful time to introduce some fresh seasonal colour.
Autumn bedding plants such as cyclamen, chrysanthemums, asters and winter pansies, along with grasses, shrubs and plants with colourful foliage such as heuchera and euonymus, can instantly brighten borders, pots and containers. Japanese maples (Acer) can provide beautiful autumn foliage, while Skimmia offers evergreen interest and colourful berries, helping your garden continue to look inviting as summer fades.
And don’t forget spring! October is an excellent time to plant spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths. Plant them now and you’ll be rewarded with a welcome burst of colour when spring arrives.
Prepare for the Months Ahead
There are plenty of other simple jobs that can make a difference as your garden moves into winter.
Clear fallen leaves regularly, check containers and pots for good drainage, protect any tender plants that may not cope with colder temperatures and make sure newly planted specimens are well watered while the soil remains dry.
It’s also a great time to take a look at your garden and think ahead. Are there gaps in your borders you’d like to fill? Could a few new pots brighten up your patio? Or perhaps this is the year to plant more spring bulbs for a spectacular display next year?
