Autumn is a very important season when it comes to grounds maintenance. It is time for you to clean up summer’s leftovers and prepare your grounds for winter. It is time to plan for the coming year and start planting the bulbs that will eventually flower in spring. This is also the season to plant your winter vegetables and spring-flowering shrubs. Perhaps most importantly, you need to improve the soil so that your garden will grow better in the coming seasons.
In autumn, the soil is warm and moist, so it gives plants time to set down new roots. Here are the most important things you should do to prepare your grounds for autumn.
Clean up
It is important to have a thorough clean up before cold and frosty winter conditions set in. You should remove the plant debris and disinfect the paths. It is also important to spray garden disinfectant combat the infestation of pests or fungus, or to prevent future infestations.
Autumn is the time to plan for spring. This is the time to order your seeds, and if you have a vegetable patch, harvest it thoroughly and then apply manure to the soil. This will prevent the growth of weeds while adding important nutrients to the soil.
Collect fallen leaves
Fallen leaves are one of the biggest autumn gardening challenges. The colorful leaves all over the ground look beautiful, but they can create a lot of mess too. If you are planning to grow plants in spring then you must remove these leaves. Rakes work of course, but the most efficient way to do this is with a leaf blower. Leaf blowers can get rid of leaves from hard-to-reach areas.
Rather than putting your leaf litter in the rubbish, a greener approach is to use it to make compost. You can also use it for mulching. Spread the leaves on the ground and use a mulching mower to cut the leaves into smaller pieces. As they fall to the ground, they will nourish the soil, while keeping the weeds under control.
Protect plants from frost
Frost can be a huge threat to plants in winter, as well as in autumn in some climates. Therefore, it is important to take measures to protect your plants in autumn. Young seedlings can easily be damaged due to cold weather as they don’t have deep roots yet. Therefore, if the upper layer of the soil freezes, seedlings won’t be able to get sufficient water or nutrients, and will eventually die.
Regular watering will help the soil to resist frost and the ground won’t freeze. It is also important to water at night so that frost won’t form. Covering your plants will also protect them from frost – if you have precious plants that you want to protect during winter cover them with canvas or tarpaulin overnight or on particularly cold days. In the morning remove the cover so that the seedlings can get sunlight and air.
Don’t cut your lawn too short
Cutting your lawn becomes even more important during autumn. Make sure you don’t cut your lawn too severely as it may expose the grass to damage by frost, fungus, or disease. Additionally, if you cut the grass too short, it won’t absorb the sun’s rays. Trimming your lawn to the right length will help it to be healthier in winter. It is recommended that you cut grass to around 2.5 to 3 inches.
This is also the time of year to apply autumn lawn feed to promote good lawn health and prepare your lawn for the cold weather. Finally, think ahead to avoid your lawn becoming boggy or muddy when the heavy rains set in. Make sure that you have adequate drainage around your lawn and paths.
Net your pond
In autumn, pond water can be contaminated by decomposing leaves. These will also block the filters on any pumps or fountains. It is therefore essential that your regularly clean ponds and water features and remove any leaves. It is also a good idea to set up a fine net across the pond at the beginning of autumn to keep it clean.
Prepare the soil
It is also important to prepare your soil at this time of year so that it is ready for spring. Turn over the soil and break up any clumps. Remove any weeds or debris. Add green manures, nitrogen-fixing plants to improve the condition of the soil.
Plant evergreens
If you want to keep your garden full and lush across all seasons, be sure to incorporate plenty of evergreens. Planting evergreens can give structure to your garden during winter. You can also fill the gaps in borders by planting evergreens.
Autumn is the time to tidy up your grounds to protect your plants in winter. Autumn is the season to plant vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, peas, and sprouts. You can also sow spring flowers like calendula, foxglove, forget-me-not, and planting flowering bulbs such as daffodils and irises during this season.
