Getting the garden ready for autumn

GARDEN

Getting ready
for autumn

Cooler temperatures and shorter days: autumn is the ideal season to put the garden to rest, protect it from winter and prepare for the spring blooms.

QUICK ANSWER

	Clean up: rake up dead leaves, prune perennials and shrubs, weed the beds.
	Protect: mulch the soil, cover frost-sensitive plants, drain the watering systems.
	Plan ahead: plant autumn bulbs and sow winter vegetables.
	Store away: clean, oil and sharpen your tools before storing them in a dry place.

CLEAN UP & PROTECT

Prune perennials & shrubs

Remove dead and diseased wood to encourage regrowth. Shears, pruners, pruning saw.

Rake up the leaves

Limit diseases and mould. Rakes, leaf fork, brooms, blower.

Mulch the soil

An organic mulch protects from the cold, limits evaporation and enriches the soil. Fork, rake.

Protect from frost

Frost-protection fleece, shelter or tarpaulin for sensitive plants. Pruners, rope, ladder.

PREPARE & SOW

Plant the bulbs

Rooting before the frost for generous blooms in spring. Spade, dibber, trowel.

Prepare the beds

Weed, amend and level before winter. Hoe, rake, mattock, cultivator.

Sow winter vegetables

Cabbages, turnips, radishes, onions: harvests right into the cold. Hand seeder, precision seeder.

Till in autumn

Aerates the soil and incorporates organic matter. Tiller for small areas.

MAINTENANCE BEFORE WINTER

	Check automatic watering systems: leaks, settings and consumption (moisture sensor, meter, timers).
	Clean water butts and ponds to preserve water quality (net, brush, pump).
	Prepare your tools: clean, oil and grease the moving parts, sharpen them, replace worn parts.
	Drain hoses and taps before the frost, then store all the equipment in a dry place.

PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

GLOVES & GOGGLES

Protect your hands and eyes when pruning and raking.

MASK, BOOTS & CLOTHING

Dust mask, boots and suitable workwear.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When should I plant autumn bulbs?

Before the first frosts, so the roots develop during the dormant period and provide a generous bloom in spring.

Do I really need to rake up all the leaves?

Remove leaves from lawns and beds to prevent disease and smothering of young plants. You can recycle them as mulch or compost.

A question about maintenance or a part to replace before winter? Our advisers will guide you.