Autumn gardening tips for the vegetable and flower garden

Vegetable garden

It’s time to take stock of the vegetable garden. What were your successes? What will you under no circumstances be planting again next year? Write down your observations to ensure that you'll remember the lessons learned.

When it comes to soil, now is a good time to mix in new organic matter. There will be lots of it available in the autumn, so make use of this opportunity to make your own mulch or compost.

If you have heavy, clay soil, it’s a good idea to turn it with a spade. You can make it lighter by adding a mix of sand and organic matter. The structure of the soil should be like breadcrumbs.

If you have raised beds, use a cultivator to mix the soil. Finish off with a good warming layer of compost.

Flower garden

Take stock of your possibly expensively acquired summer flowers. Some of them might not have lived up to your expectations. Could growing your own be a possibility next year?

Early autumn is the perfect time to plant evergreens like rhododendrons. Roses should be planted later in autumn.

The earlier in the fall spring bulbs are planted, the nicer the flowers will be. The best bulbs are firm, solid, and do not show signs of germination or mold.

Lift the corms of more delicate flowers such as dahlias, begonias and some lilies before the frost really sets in.

Fruit garden

Check if there are broken branches that have cracked under the weight of the harvest. Cut off damaged branches, so they don’t spread fungal disease. Also remove branches that are growing in towards the crown or rubbing against each other.

Cleaning and maintenance

Give the greenhouse a good going over with soft soap to kill bacteria, pests and fungus.

Service your gardening tools for the winter. Clean off the soil and oil the metal parts. Remove dirt from the mower and oil movable parts and those that rust easily.

Now you can hibernate, but not like the bears. It may suddenly be gardening weather again, even in the coldest winter months.