Autumn is one of our favourite months for gardening. Not only do our gardens begin to showcase a blanket of rich tones, but it provides us with the first opportunity to shape our gardens for the summer ahead. Before the frosty mornings and dark evenings of winter set in, autumn is a final reminder of the vibrancy that awaits us in the new year.

But whilst it’s easy to begin slowing down ourselves as September passes us by, there are a few tasks still to tackle. From ensuring our soil remains nutrient rich to planting bulbs in preparation for spring, tackling these tasks will create a garden that withstands the harshness of winter before thriving again in March.  

In this guide to preparing your garden for winter, we’ll cover six tasks that should be on your list between September – November. From helping your plants look better for longer to ensuring your soil remains rich in nutrients, ticking these tasks off your list is sure to keep your green fingers busy throughout autumn. 

Tend to Flowers

Plants that thrived during spring or summer may now be looking a little tired. Whilst this won’t necessarily mean that they’ll need digging up from the roots, they could benefit from a little care to keep them looking better for longer.

Deadheading is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to extend the beauty of your plants. By removing dead flowers, it allows the plant to better use its energy for growing new, vibrant flowers. It also prevents plants for self-seeding, which can see plants such as sea holly quickly take over your beds.  

Prepare Your Grass

It’s around September that your grass will begin to grow a little slower. Although this may feel like a much-needed rest bite from summer, make use of warm days to keep on top of it. This is as once the wet days of mid-late autumn arrive, you’ll have few days to trim it, and you’ll soon regret allowing it to get out of control before winter. By October time, your grass is unlikely to require trimming until spring.

Early autumn is also the perfect time to show your lawn some TLC. Dry weather, disease, and pests will have likely damaged it over summer. So, take a moment to inspect your lawn to identify such issues. The Royal Horticultural Society’s handy video then provides guidance on how to tackle each issue, whether you simply need to reseed your grass or tackle an aggressive disease.

Nourish Your Soil

At the end of a particularly hot and dry summer, there may be few plants remaining in your beds. If this is the case, it’s important that you don’t leave your soil exposed over the winter. Not only may it be eroded by the heavy rainfall of winter, but it could lack the nutrients needed for your plants to thrive in the new year. You may also discover that hardy weeds have taken hold of your beds over winter.

Create a mulch from compost, leaves, manure, or wood chippings. Then place a 2-3 inch thick layer on top of your soil throughout winter to provide a much needed barrier from the elements. This may need topping up over winter, particularly if you have neighbourhood cats who take it upon themselves to scatter your mulch over the remainder of your garden.   

Plant for Spring

Whether it be hyacinths, snowdrops, or hellebores, the ideal time to plant spring bulbs is at the onset of autumn. This is so that they have ample time to grow roots and become established before becoming dormant during the colder months. If you plant them too early, they may bloom before winter, but if you plant them too late, they may not have the roots needed to survive winter.

The ideal time to plant spring-flowering bulbs can vary by a few weeks, but most should be planted by the end of September. If it’s a summer-flowering bulb, then you can usually plant them as late as October. Tulips bulbs are the latest to be planted, with the RHS recommending these are put to bed in November. Whenever you plant your bulbs, ensure the bulbs are not sat around for too long beforehand.

Lookout for Wildlife

Autumn is an important time for wildlife with some species, such as hedgehogs, using these months to prepare for hibernation. It is, therefore, important that you provide them with the ideal conditions to thrive in the run up to winter. You’ll be rewarded in the new year, when a wildlife-rich garden will be more fruitful and enjoyable.

There are a few ways you can help wildlife throughout Autumn. This includes planting trees that offer vital food, such as holly or hawthorn. Or simply provide a few homes for wildlife, such as bird boxes or hedgehog houses. Gardener's World also recommend leaving borders to become a little ‘wild’ to provide added food and cover for insects.

Care for Timber

Before the harsh weather of winter sets in, you’ll want to tackle any larger tasks such as broken fences, damaged sheds, or rotting furniture. Doing this in early autumn will be less messy and far easier, plus you may find it easier getting your hands on certain supplies.

Of course, this is the time to repair any loose fence posts or wobbly fence panels. Roofing Megastore also suggest this is the last opportunity to fix any weakened roofs on sheds or outbuildings. You should also give any exposed timber a lick of paint to protect it from rain and damp over summer.

Ready to Prepare Your Garden for Winter?

With your newfound knowledge, you can now begin to work through your autumnal gardening jobs. These will help to ensure your garden is resillient throughout winter and thrives in spring, all whilst giving wildlife a helping hand throughout the chillier months. 

At DIY Megastore, we've got all the gardening supplies you could need this autumn. From quality turf to garden tools to fencing, our range will help you maintain a garden that neightbours will be in aww of.