Yet again it has got to that horrible time of year where dark nights overtake the autumn days and the weather plays havoc with your once blooming garden. The dormant season is upon us again. There are so many jobs to do in the garden, where do you start?
Trees and Shrubs
Now is the time for cutting back all of those trees and shrubs that have got a bit out of hand and out of shape. Try to cut any branches back to just above a viable bud, that way you won't cause any damage to areas of new growth in the Spring. It is also advisable to cut the branches off at an angle so that any frost or damp doesn't collect and cause die back or rotting.
Now is the perfect time of year for planting deciduous trees, fruit trees and roses. Use a good rich compost or mulch in the bottom of the hole to give the tree/shrub a good start as this will feed the roots and encourage strong new growth in the spring
Plant roses in full sun in a clay soil, positioning them 24 inches apart as this will give the roses enough space to spread out.
Lawns
A main area of concern for many people is the lawn. After spending many days, weeks and even months tending their perfect lawned areas, the prospect of a harsh winter is a real worry. Not only do you have the almost continuous rain, making lawns waterlogged, but add to that the harsh frosts and possible snow and its enough to make the toughest of groundsmen weep!
Removing all of the leaves that fall from trees and shrubs can be a mammoth task, but its a job that needs to be done to protect your grass. If you are surrounded by trees, you know how bothersome piles of fallen leaves can be. Not only do they blow everywhere and make a mess, but they can be a real pest for lawns. They can discolour your grass and cause bald patches to appear if you are unable to get outside regularly to clear them off and then there is also the risk of moss build up. This in itself will then cause problems as moss can be hard to get rid of.
Of course, if you have artifical grass, leaves can be raked off with ease, even when the leaves are wet. If you are unable to tender your garden regularly, the leaves won't cause any damage to your lawn. You will never get any moss growth or perennial weed problems like dandelions or daisies either. You will have a lawn that will look good all year round. If you end up with a lot of fallen leaves, you can always use them to make leaf mould. This can make a great mulch for flower beds.
So, with the lawn taken care of, you can spend more time tending the vegetable patch.
The Vegetable Patch
Now is the time to remove any dead growth so you can add a good amount of mulch or manure to the soil. This will do wonders to the ground adding lots of lovely new nutrients back into the earth, so that next year's crops get a good boost.
If you have any current or berry plants, now is the time to cut back the fruited stems. This will make way for the new growth that will carry the fruit next season.
If the soil on your vegetable patch is heavy, apply generous amounts of manure and dig it in. Double digging of the entire area will aerate the soil and help the organic matter mix in and break the heavy soil down.
So as you can see, so much to do, so little time! I've made a start on the vegetable patch, cutting back of my shrubs and fruit and I have an attractive lawned area to boot.
Time for a cuppa I think!
