Autumn – the start of the gardening year?

There is a general consensus among the gardening fraternity that Autumn is the time for packing up the garden and putting it to bed until next Spring. But I’m sure I’m not alone in begging to disagree. There is so much to do in terms of planning and planting for next year. Autumn is the time to plant bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, crocus and alliums to get colourful displays next spring. We’ve just finished planting ours, though there’s still plenty of time to get them in before the weather really turns. Regardless of the size of your garden there is colour aplenty to be found everywhere – both in the trees around us and in the borders. Anyone who has seen the range of Red Oaks (Quercus rubra, egglestonii, schumardii) in their Autumnal hues of deep crimson to bright scarlet, the brash silver purple berries of Callicarpa bodinieri, the tufted seedheads of Clematis vitalba and rehderiana or the fiery spikes of Kniphofia rooperi could be justified in saying this is the most vibrant of seasons, albeit one that has the feel of a defiant last hurrah before the Winter really sets in. But let us enjoy it whilst it lasts as there is plenty we can do to make our gardens look their very best. If you have fruit trees in your garden, harvest apples, pears, quince and medlars and set to making jellies and jams and of course, my favourite – gin.  We’ve had a bumper harvest of medlars and quince again this year so there’ll be plenty of jelly in the pantry again this year and perhaps some Membrillo as well. The quince gin that Richard made last year as an experiment was a huge success, the floral notes of the quince making for a deliciously sweet summer cocktail. Make a gin and tonic in the usual way but add a sprig of thyme and a squeeze of lime juice first, muddle the lime and thyme to release the herb oils, add the gin and then the tonic – delicious! Make sure, too, to pick up the fallers off your lawn and rake your leaves; not only will this make the garden look much tidier but the leaf mould you make from those fallen leaves is like black gold in the Spring as your perennials burst back into life. It may seem like a waste of energy (for both you and the trees) but trust me, it’s worth it and there’s something very rewarding about stockpiling these natural garden goodies. It’s akin to making those jams and chutneys and stocking up the store cupboard. Just think of the compost heap and leaf mould pile as your outdoor store.

With the glorious weather we’ve enjoyed of late, I’ve also noticed in the late afternoon light the shadows caused by the lower limbs of some of our older trees. Removing these lower limbs is an ongoing job and one that comes round with apparent greater regularity as the trees get older. Letting more light into the garden will add warmth and encourage growth in the Spring.

Just tidying up the garden will expose a lot of hidden colour and give glimpses of the promise of Spring. Even clearing the leaves away from lawns and trimming border edges will tidy up your garden nicely and make a walk round your patch, even on a less than perfect Autumn day, a joy.

Top Tips for November

Give hedges their last trim ahead of Winter.

It’s still not too late to get your Spring bulb orders in and plant them out.

Before the birds eat them all, cut a few stems of holly with berries for making Christmas garlands. Stand them in a bucket of water in a sheltered spot where our feathered friends can't take them.

Start to plant bare root roses - they can be planted any time between now and March.

If you have access to fresh manure, now is the time to spread it across the surface of your vegetable beds to rot down over winter.

Prune pear and apple trees anytime between now and February. But don't be tempted to prune your plum trees now as they will be susceptible to the silver leaf fungus - wait until midsummer.

Any containers that you intend to stay outside will benefit from being raised up to prevent waterlogging. Pot feet are great but there are also recycled rubber pads too that do the trick.

Fed up just clearing up? Then now is the time to plant up containers of bulbs for a spring display and to plant out winter bedding.

For more information on the garden at Lewis Cottage - http://lewiscottageplants.co.uk