Autumn is the time to clear up and prepare for the colder months. A few hours' work between late September and November saves a lot of effort in spring. It also stops small problems, such as matted leaves or straggly hedges, settling in for the winter.
Keep on top of fallen leaves
Clear fallen leaves from lawns, paths and drives regularly. Wet leaves smother grass and make hard surfaces slippery. Left on a lawn for a few weeks, a layer of leaves blocks the light and holds moisture against the grass, which leads to yellow patches and moss.
Little and often is easier than one big clear-up. A weekly rake, or a pass with the mower set high, collects leaves and chops them at the same time. Don't throw them away: piled in a corner, or packed damp into a bin bag with a few holes in it, leaves rot down into leaf mould, a free soil conditioner for your borders.
Give hedges a final trim
Give hedges a final trim before winter so they stay neat until spring. Most garden hedges, including privet, beech, hornbeam, laurel and leylandii, can be tidied in early autumn as growth slows. Aim to finish before the first hard frosts.
Cut the top slightly narrower than the base, so light reaches the bottom and the hedge doesn't thin out from below. Take care with conifers: leylandii and most other conifers won't regrow from old brown wood, so trim lightly and never cut back beyond the green.
Keep mowing, but higher
Keep mowing while the grass is still growing, gradually raising the height as the weather cools. In a mild autumn, grass can keep growing into November. Raise the blades a notch every few weeks, and don't mow when the lawn is frosty or waterlogged.
Autumn is also the best time of year to repair a tired lawn, while the soil is still warm and moist:
- Rake out thatch and moss with a spring-tine rake or scarifier.
- Spike compacted areas with a garden fork to let in air and water.
- Sow grass seed over thin or bare patches in September or early October.
- Use an autumn lawn feed, which is lower in nitrogen than spring feeds and helps roots rather than leafy growth.
Tidy borders, but not too much
Cut back perennials that have collapsed or turned to mush, but leave some seed heads and hollow stems standing. They shelter insects over winter, feed birds and look good in a frost. Spread a layer of compost or bark over bare soil to protect it from winter rain. Clear leaves from gutters and drains while you're at it.
Autumn is also the start of the planting season for bare-root hedging, which arrives in nurseries from November. If you've been thinking about a new hedge, now is the time to plan it.
Looking after a larger site?
On school grounds, care home gardens, communal areas and private roads, autumn work is mostly about safety and access. Paths, steps and car parks need clearing before leaves become a slip hazard, drains need keeping clear, and hedges need cutting back from footpaths and sightlines at entrances. Agreeing an autumn schedule in advance, such as fortnightly leaf clearance from October to December, is cheaper and calmer than reacting after a complaint.
Need a hand?
We do one-off autumn clear-ups as well as regular garden and grounds maintenance and commercial contracts across Worcestershire. Ask for a free quote.