When the days start to get shorter and summer starts to turn to autumn, you could be forgiven for thinking that your days in the garden are coming to an end for another season. However, there are still things you can do!
Late summer harvest
If you’ve spent the summer growing summer vegetables and fruits, then there is still time to make the most of your efforts. Things such as raspberries, apples, and blackcurrants are all ready to be picked for some later summer fruit treats. Or get jam making ready for the winter supply!
Sow and plant for next year
As every gardener knows, the key to success is planning and being prepared. If you want to have a beautiful garden starting from next spring, then you can prepare for it now.
Collect – make the most of the flowers and produce that you’ve already got in your garden. Collect the seeds so that they can live again. Store them in a dry place (something like an envelope or old seed packet is perfect) and label them ready for planting next year. This way your annuals and perennials can live on.
Prepare for Spring – You can choose and plant some bulbs now for spring (and some winter plants) as planting now can help create strong roots, so it will make sure you have a good start in the garden next spring.
If you’re looking for flowers and colors, then think of such things as daffodils and lilies, crocus and iris. For produce you can take into the kitchen, there are plenty of options. Winter varieties of things such as radish, lettuce, onions etc. can all be found and planted now, to harvest come winter time.
Of course you can also plant now for spring, things such as hardy parsley and cabbage etc can be investigated.
Prepare prepare prepare
Of course to have things planted and ready for winter, you need to prepare your garden. While there are things you need to do, you will find that the maintenance side of gardening should decrease. Weeds and grass etc will stop growing so you can spend less time on your knees pulling up the unwanted growers!
You can also clear the garden of any dead plants etc. and also turn the soil and add any manure to it that you feel is required, so that it is in optimum condition for next year.
You also need to consider moving plants indoors or into the greenhouse if they are particularly effected by the change of weather. This will be something to consider and check over the next few weeks, depending on how quickly the summer turns to winter!
General considerations
As mentioned above, this is a good time to start tidying your garden for the colder months. Trim the hedges and shrubs and do what is needed to give your garden a neat look.
You also need to consider how you look after your house and greenhouse plants. With the colder and darker days coming up there is less need for watering, and you could of course damage the plants if you water at the same level as summer. Make sure you research the needs of your plants over the autumn season.
Do you have any ideas to add? Leave a comment below or tweet them to @newlywedsurvive.
Colin is writing on behalf of vegetable seeds supplier Kingsseeds.com
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