Your autumn gardening guide

We’ve got some colder weather round the corner now, all right! But here I am telling you to tear yourself away from the cosy TV winter schedules, put your woollies on and get stuck into some gardening jobs!

Make sure all your tender plants are taken care of. Check stored fruit. Or perhaps plan for more autumn colour in future years………

Plant protection

We can never be sure what kind of summer we’re going to have, but most of us can still been pretty certain that we will experience some very cold weather at some point between now and next spring.  For most plants that we grow outside this is not a problem.  Indeed, many of them need a period of cold (and thus dormancy) in order to give of their best the following year.  An essential part of their growth cycle. 

But quite a few would appreciate some help: dahlias, Agapanthus, fuchsias, lemon verbena, some Euphorbias, salvias, cannas, etc. – there’s quite a list. Check the hardiness of a plant using the RHS ratings, and bear in mind where you live – there are BIG regional differences. There are several different ways you can protect your plants:

A. Mulch – a thick layer of mulch over the roots will stop the frost from penetrating deeply even if the top growth turns black. Many can have their dead foliage spread over the top of the rootball to provide this extra layer.

B. Insulate pots with bubble wrap tied round them, or use the brilliant fleeces that we have in our shop round tender plants in pots.

C. Move pots into an unheated greenhouse or somewhere similar, ready to move outside again when the worst of the winter is over.

D. Use pot feet to raise pots above the level of hard surfaces.  This provides better drainage and often it’s the combination of wet and cold that can kill a borderline hardy plant rather than cold alone.  This may stop terracotta pots from cracking too, because when waterlogged soil freezes, it expands and can cause damage.

E. Take a few cuttings of plants like salvias, root them indoors and use them in spring to replace any losses to winter weather.  It gives just a little insurance👍

That is just a little canter through your options.  You may not need any of them, but with plants the price they are, it could be worth taking a few precautions!

Stored fruit

You may well have frozen or given away apples from your harvest this year, but if you put any away for storage, don’t forget to check them from time to time.  

I hope you chose a dry, cool, frost-free place to lay them out. I usually spread mine out but there were so many this year that I ran out of room! I also sometime wrap them in newspaper, but again, no space!

Never mind, at least I can quickly see which ones are starting to go bad and can remove them easily to be put out for the birds to feast on.  I am pretty confident that the rest will make it through to next Easter at least – perfect for raiding whenever we fancy pies, tarts or turnovers – yum!

Autumn colours

How has your garden been looking lately? For many of us it hasn’t been dry and bright enough to give us a truly vintage autumn, but some trees and shrubs have really lifted the gloom and provided their own sunshine.  

So if your patch has simply looked well past its best and heading for winter dullness, can I urge you to put a few autumn beauties on your Christmas list?  You’ll be able to plant them out in winter or early spring, and you’ll be so glad you did, come next September, October and November.

Here are some of my faves: 

Euonymus europaeus (spindle) – nothing remotely exotic about this bush or small tree, but its orange and pink berries amongst rainbow foliage will dazzle for a month at least.

Viburnum opulus – snowball tree/guelder rose – another very easy native tree (max 15ft.) which has white flowers in spring and the shiniest red berries on every branch in autumn.  Beloved by the birds, and an absolute picture before they eat them all. Look at the feature pic if you don’t believe me!

Miscanthus – I am a big fan of the giant oats (Stipa gigantea) for the summer, but their time is past and Miscanthus plumes are the kings now.

On our YouTube channel, the3Growbags, I have a bit of a chat about more of my favourite plants for this time of year.

Gardening shorts

• I mentioned taking salvia cuttings earlier, which I am certainly going to do myself, but I’m also going to take some cuttings of rosemary and thyme, both of which have been requested by my husband who needs a bigger supply for his culinary masterpieces.  They are a doddle to do – just cut off shoots 2-4″ long, strip off the lower leaves and pinch out the tip, and insert the cutting into a pot of gritty compost. Water and cover with a plastic bag fixed with an elastic band and keep in a bright warm place to root. I’m actually going to have a go at rooting them in water this time, though. I will let you know how I get on!

• If you are planting new trees or woody shrubs this autumn, do be aware that rabbits (or deer in rural places) can cause a lot of damage.  They scrape away the bark and this might even kill the tree.  Put up some tree guards while the plant is establishing, to protect them.

• There is still time to divide up primulas, hardy geraniums and herbaceous peonies.  Pull apart the roots into small groups with a few shoots each and then replant them into fresh, weeded soil.  Remember that herbaceous peonies must be planted shallowly, with roots barely below the surface – otherwise you’ll get plenty of foliage but very few flowers.

• Aren’t hellebores the prettiest things!  It can be quite tricky to be sure of having the lovely Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) in flower for the big day, but did you know that you can dig up the plant, pot it up and bring it inside into a cool bright place, and it will flower earlier?  I sometimes do this with the Lenten roses (Helleborus orientalis) as well – I’m so impatient to see their lovely faces, and this way, I don’t have to endure ghastly weather while I’m doing it.   It’s very important to put them out in the garden again afterwards though – they are hardy plants and they need the great outdoors!

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Here is the link to Elaine’s video clip on autumn colour in her garden.

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Isn’t it lovely to see something actually come into flower in November? This Mahonia is a real winner in every sense of the word, fitting perfectly in any corner since it’s compact and pot-friendly. Learn more about Louise’s Great Plant this Month right here…