Paul GarganGreen Fingers – a new gardening column
Some people find it difficult to appreciate their garden at this time of year. The zing of spring and the lushness of summer are gone but autumn colour more than makes up for this. The urgency of having tasks to undertake is gone and the pace slows. That is not to say you stop, as now is the time to prepare and plan for next year.
Rake lawns to remove build up of thatch and moss. Keep lawns free from fallen leaves – if left to rot, they will leave dead patches. Check ties on newly planted trees, to make sure that they are ready for winter, and cut back tall shrubs just enough to tidy them.
Move established shrubs, taking as big a ball of roots as possible. Plant them in prepared holes much bigger than the root ball, and back fill the hole with a mixture of soil and garden compost. Water well and keep watered during dry spells for the next year.
Plants
Although you can plant container-grown plants virtually all year round, generally late autumn is the best time for the plants. The heat is still in the ground from the summer but the moisture content rises due to increased rainfall. The plant can now concentrate its energies on rooting as there is no new top growth to feed.
Instead of worrying about watering, in general you can leave autumn planted container-grown plants to look after themselves until spring. When spring does arrive, they will have a head start on those planted in spring. If you are unlucky enough to have a wet garden, you are better off waiting until spring.
Prune and secure climbing roses to their framework, making sure the main stems are as horizontal as possible. Reduce the height of shrub roses to prevent wind rock, and leave the pruning until March. The leaves of all roses with blackspot should be collected and disposed of, not composted.
Remove and compost summer bedding from baskets and containers, and replace with winter/spring bedding if you have not already done so. With winter bedding, you need to concentrate on drainage rather than water retention. Winter bedding won’t have time to grow much after planting so pack your containers for a good show. Place containers in as sheltered and sunny a position as possible. For a burst of colour in early spring, underplant bedding with spring flowering bulbs. Choose compact varieties such as narcissus tȇte-a-tȇte.
Bulbs
Plant your spring flowering bulbs now, if they are not already planted. When planting under trees and shrubs, plant in uneven numbered bunches (three, five or seven) as they will look much better and it is much less work than individual planting. If you are naturalising them in a lawn, plant them in large drifts.
Scatter handfuls of bulbs and plant them where they fall. The rule for planting is plant the bulb twice its own height deep.