Once we feel that summer is well and truly over a whole world of excuses emerge for us to avoid getting out in the garden. But, the truth is, if we care enough about our back yards, our lawns, and our garden areas then we will soon realise that the fall is equally full of promise and opportunities for our beloved gardens.
Summer and Spring offer wonderful weather and the chance to witness the garden bloom, but how does it bloom if no effort is made in the fall and during the winter? Fall is an ideal time to get cracking on the garden, but many of us don’t realise some of the things that we can be doing, to not only maintain our gardens but to even get that bit more of enjoyment before the bad winter weather really sets in.
It isn’t possible to savor our gardens next spring or summer without effort right now, which is why we felt the need to share with you some of the garden tips to help your flowers and laws really thrive over the next few months. What better way to enjoy it and watch your garden prosper. Here is everything you need to know.
You don’t need to stop using the garden for recreational purposes
It’s easy to retreat indoors the moment the sun starts to fade, and the air gets a little cooler. But this is a wonderful time to still enjoy being outside, so I thought I would share with you two ways you can still enjoy your garden now that the cooler months are ahead of us.
Eating outside
Eating outside during the summer, of course, has its benefits. The weather for one and the BBQ opportunities is another. But, none of that has to disappear the moment September the 1st hits us. Where is there a rule where you can’t enjoy eating outside during the autumn? Places like Temple and Webster have a wonderful selection of garden furniture, so there really isn’t any excuse.
Think about enjoying hearty stews or big bowls of pasta in front of a wood burning [amazon_textlink asin=’B071GS3MNY’ text=’fire pit’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’mygardening411-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’76831c45-917e-11e7-bca7-21dd58c64e9f’]. The cooler evenings with a nice glass of something aren’t sounding so bad outside now, are they? Get out and enjoy the fall sunshine while we still have it.
Enjoying the garden first thing
One of the best times of the day to enjoy the garden is first thing in the morning. The air is fresh, the dew glistens along the lawn and on the plants, and it simply is divine. So why not make it a new habit to take your hot coffee outside for ten minutes and enjoy the fresh air? It can be a great way to start your day. It can also be the ideal time to really clear your mind of any unnecessary clutter. Many people begin their day with meditation, and the garden can be the ideal place to do it.
Some plants really thrive in the fall
There are many plants that truly thrive in the winter and autumn months, for example, crocus. It blooms in the fall, and you can get some unbelievable bright colors that can add some life in your flower beds very easily. However, it is also the ideal time to spruce up the beds and get rid of any unwanted leaves, leaving you the opportunity to plant those Spring bulbs. As we mentioned earlier, a blooming garden in the spring and summer months only happens with careful preparation in the fall.
Other plants to consider utilizing in the autumn months would be Dhalia, the snowdrop, and the winter aconite, to name a few. All of which will add some personality and color to your garden during the colder months of the year. Making it still please on the eye and enjoyable to watch grow.
The chores you need to get done ready for winter
There is no escaping the fact that there are some chores to be done during the winter months. But this enables you to have a garden that you can simply enjoy during the summer next year. They may not always be enjoyable jobs, but you can certainly feel some satisfaction from them when they are completed. Some of them go beyond weeding and mowing the lawn, it’s more about the maintenance side of things as well as planting those all important spring and summer bulbs and seeds for the following year.
Your lawn needs late summer attention
Next springs lawn weeds can be deterred with a little preparation this fall, so what are you waiting for? One of the first things you could consider would be mowing it down to size and then adding a strong fertilizer to the grass. It is the ideal time to shape your lawn, trim any edges, and then apply some grass seed. However, with these sorts of the things the earlier you do this in the fall, the better it will be in the Spring and summer ahead.
Likewise, try and maintain your lawn for as long as possible during the colder months. Of course, we can’t help the rainfall or simply can’t avoid ice or snow conditions. But keeping it cut and maintained when you have the opportunity will ensure that you have a healthy looking and bright green grass to enjoy when the warm weather begins to return next year.
The herbs and vegetables you could be enjoying or preparing for
Did you know that winter is the ideal time to enjoy your vegetable and herb garden? There are some great plant based foods you can plant reap the rewards of very quickly in your vegetable and herb garden, making your garden area an all year round source of produce. Things to consider growing would be kale, onions, spring onions, garlic. Even fruit is great in the fall where we see apple trees begin to bloom and produce some amazing fruit. You could also consider any of the other vegetables you wish to plant ready for the following years harvest for the spring.
Herbs are especially useful, so if you don’t have the space for vegetables or fruit, you can always find some space for herbs. Things like chives, basil, lavender and thyme are great things to use in everyday cooking or home essentials. These sorts of things can be grown in pots or window sills, so there really is no excuse to enjoy the benefits of your garden during the fall months ahead.
Opportunities for composting and rain barrels
With you sprucing up the garden you may find ample opportunity to keep your compost heap topped up. This works great for your plants and enables them a source of nutrients directly into the dirt that you fertilize. If you are new to starting composting, then there are plenty of articles online with ideas on how to get a compost heap started. The best advice is to use a plastic sheet at the bottom to avoid any roots growing up into the compost heap.
The fall also brings with it a turn in the weather, and rain is far more common at this time of year. So you may want to get a rain barrel ready. This is perfect for watering plants on warmer days and can save you a fair bit of money on your water bills. It’s also good for the environment and energy saving, what’s more to love?
Don’t forget the care for your tools and equipment
There is always your tools and equipment to think about now that the colder and wetter months are about to start. So it might be the ideal time to invest in a shed to store things safely and to keep them dry. But first, you will need to ensure that all tools and equipment are cleaned thoroughly. This avoids and corrosion that could happen when they are not being used during the coldest points of the year. Other things to think about would be to drain any gas or oil from equipment that uses this sort of fuel.
Finally, get them stored away neatly and tidily in your new shed, enabling you to start as soon as you get the opportunity to get into the garden. This can work well for any garden furniture you have. Having somewhere to store these things keeps your garden orderly, but also helps to keep them in good condition.
Lastly, the general tasks to adhere to
Finally, there are some other chores you can undertake towards the end of the fall, when the weather really starts to turn cold and wet. Firstly, some of your potted plants may be a little delicate for the ice and harshness of winter, so you may want to prepare them to be brought indoors for the winter. Re-pot them in new soil before you do to ensure you don’t bring in any critters looking for a warm place to stay for the winter.
Giving your garden one last tidy up, clearing the gutters and generally ensuring it is at it’s best before the winter sets in leaves you with less work to conquer once the days start to brighten up.
We hope that has inspired you to make the most of the garden this fall.
