Helpful hints Things to do in Autumn
Autumn The perfect time to clean up the garden and prepare
Autumn is a great time to clean up the garden and prepare for planting. If you act now and prepare your Autumn gardening, your garden plot will not only benefit from the beneficial organisms and healthy environment you have provided but will thrive and flourish into spring, making your home more appealing and relaxing.
Prevent weeds, insect pests and their eggsAct now to save time later
Autumn is a good time to prevent your gardens from becoming a winter haven for weeds, insect pests and their eggs. Watch out for caterpillars, use protectant sprays and monitor lawn grubs. It is the time to remove all weeds, finished flowering spring/summer annuals and any leftover produce from fruit, vines or vegetables in the garden. Cut back geraniums and remove any diseased and dead wood on other species, and prune hedge plants such as Murruyas, Grevilleas, Hibiscus and Durantas.
Add soil amendments Add compost, mushroom soil and leaves
Autumn is a great time to add compost, mushroom soil and leaves to the garden beds. Till and cultivate garden beds so that they are free from weeds, making sure that you keep shallow so you don't bring up weed seeds to the surface. Remove debris and raise garden beds, if you haven't done so already. Raising garden beds effectively lengthens the season as the soil warms earlier and stays warm later through the shorter days while also minimising the growth of weeds. This will improve yields and plant health. Where soils are heavy, you can spread gypsum to achieve a healthier balance.
Whether planting or not, you should lightly mulch beds to prevent any weed seeds from germinating. You can use compost, or a blanket of leaves 3-4 inches thick which will also encourage healthy earthworm activity.
Planting Plant and divide perennials and plant Autumn/Winter annuals, trees and shrubs
Autumn is the right time of year for planting and dividing perennials, and for planting autumn/winter annuals, including pansies, violas, primulas, cinerarias, poppies, sweetpeas, gypsoplila, carnations, leafy greens (such as lettuce, beans, spinach, mustards, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflowers and beetroot) and is also the best months to plant tree and shrubs.
Fertilising Give trees, shrubs, garden beds and lawns a good feed
Autumn is also the ideal time for fertilising tree and shrub varieties, garden beds and lawns with a good fertilizer and organic manures. This may also be a good time to thicken your lawn up with some self seeding and fertilizer.
Last but not least, Autumn is the perfect time to start a vegetable garden. Regardless of available space, with Pohlmans range of quality plants you can enjoy healthy, home-grown vegetables and herbs.
