Preparing Your Garden for Autumn

As the evenings draw in and the leaves start to turn, it’s time to focus on autumn gardening. Far from being the end of the growing season, autumn is an opportunity to plant for the months ahead, protect existing plants, and get your outdoor space in shape for the colder weather. With a little planning and the support of natural materials such as Hortiwool Garden Pads, you can make sure your garden thrives throughout the season.

What to Plant in Autumn

Autumn is the perfect season for planting. Thanks to the still-warm soil and increased rainfall. These conditions give plants a chance to establish roots before the winter sets in.

Vegetables

• Garlic and onions: These are classic autumn crops. Planting them now means they’ll be ready to harvest next summer.

• Broad beans: Sow directly outdoors for a strong early crop in spring.

• Leafy greens: Winter-hardy lettuces, spinach, and kale do well sown in autumn. Giving you fresh greens throughout the colder months.

Fruit

• Strawberries: Planting in autumn allows roots to settle, so plants are ready to produce an early crop in summer.

• Fruit trees and bushes: Apples, pears, currants, and gooseberries can all be planted now while the soil is workable.

Flowers

• Spring bulbs: Daffodils, crocus, tulips, and hyacinths planted in autumn guarantee a burst of colour as soon as spring arrives.

• Hardy annuals: Flowers such as cornflowers and nigella can be sown outdoors to overwinter and bloom earlier next year.

Planting at this time of year gives your garden a head start and ensures plenty of growth and colour when spring comes around.

Protecting Plants in Autumn

The challenge of autumn is not just what you plant, but how you protect it. Cooler nights, heavier rainfall, and the first frosts can all put stress on young plants and established beds. This is where Hortiwool Garden Pads make a real difference.

• Insulation from the cold: Placing Hortiwool around the base of plants provides a natural layer of protection, keeping roots warmer in dropping temperatures.

• Moisture control: Wool locks in water, preventing soil from drying out too quickly, yet it never becomes waterlogged. Perfect for changeable autumn weather.

• Weed suppression: With growth slowing, weeds can still take hold. A wool layer helps reduce competition, giving your plants the best chance to thrive.

• Slug deterrent: The coarse texture of wool makes it more difficult for slugs and snails to cross. Helping protect tender crops like lettuces and cabbages.

Using wool in the garden is a simple, sustainable way to give your plants the protection they need without resorting to synthetic materials.

Jobs to Do in Autumn

Autumn is not just about planting and protecting; it’s also the season to get your garden in order before winter sets in. These tasks will make all the difference to your outdoor space:

• Tidy up borders and beds: Remove annuals that have finished and cut back perennials. Add healthy plant material to the compost heap.

• Plant spring bulbs: For a vibrant garden next year, get bulbs in the ground now while the soil is still soft.

• Mulch beds and borders: Adding organic matter or a layer of Hortiwool Garden Pads around plants helps lock in warmth and nutrients.

• Lawn care: Rake fallen leaves, aerate the soil, and apply autumn lawn feed to strengthen roots before winter.

• Protect pots and containers: Move tender plants to sheltered spots and insulate containers with wool or fleece.

• Clean tools and store away: Autumn is the ideal time to clean, sharpen, and oil garden tools so they’re ready for spring.

• Harvest the last of your crops: Clear away spent summer vegetables. Enjoy the final harvests of tomatoes, courgettes, and beans before frost arrives.

Creating the Perfect Autumn Garden

With thoughtful planning, autumn gardening can set the stage for success right through winter and into spring. By planting seasonal crops and flowers, insulating your plants with Hortiwool Garden Pads, and tackling essential maintenance jobs, you’ll create a garden that is both protected and productive.

Autumn doesn’t have to signal the end of the gardening year. Instead, see it as the beginning of a new cycle. One that, with the right preparation, will reward you with a vibrant, healthy, and flourishing garden in the months to come.