Many people associate spring with the garden, as it is often considered the ultimate gardening season. However, nothing could be further from the truth, because in autumn, you can do an incredible amount in and around your favorite spot. You can sow, harvest, transplant, and prune: something for everyone.
Gardening in the autumn
Forget tidying up the garden in the autumn season. Where gardeners once used autumn and winter to prune, tidy up, and clear everything away, we now do quite the opposite. Leaves can remain where they fall, there's no need to prune (or at least much less!), and even in autumn, flowers and crops can be sown. It's delightful for us gardeners to spread out the work, and biodiversity benefits immensely too.
Look for feeding spots and drinking opportunities for garden birds. During the colder autumn and winter months, they can build up much-needed reserves.
Hang birdhouses in the garden. During the winter period, birds can calmly discover and get to know their potential new home.
Don't have a compost heap in the garden yet? Now is the perfect time to add one to the garden. Look for a ready-made barrel-shaped model or build one yourself from old pallets.
Bare-root trees and plants can be planted as soon as the leaves fall from the trees. The trees are then dormant and can be safely planted. It's often said that you can't plant during frost, but the reality is a bit more nuanced. Often, only the topsoil layers freeze. Deeper down, it doesn't freeze, so the tree or plant isn't affected. What is challenging, however, is digging. Frost makes it harder to dig a sufficiently large hole.
Autumn is the ideal time to plant garlic. Keep the 10-10-10 rule in mind: plant garlic in the 10th month, 10 centimeters apart, and 10 centimeters deep.
Don't tidy up the garden
Feel free to leave the fallen leaves in autumn, as they serve as a mulch layer in the border. Gather the leaves and spread them among the plants; the layer serves as a protective layer for the soil life and also for small insects that make their hiding place in it. If they end up in a spot you'd rather not have them, you can always collect them and spread them elsewhere or throw them on the compost heap. Dry and brown leaves are the perfect addition to the compost heap.
Leave your pruning shears aside for a while. Some flowers and plants have a beautiful winter silhouette, so it's a shame to prune them away. Plants with a winter silhouette provide structure in the garden during autumn and winter. As trees and plants gradually lose their leaves, the structural plants proudly demand attention in the garden. Small garden birds feast on the remaining seeds, and small insects overwinter in and among the plants.
Echinacea or coneflower. A late summer bloomer with a stunning winter silhouette. Birds love to snack on the seeds in winter.
Ornamental grasses. The perfect hiding spot and structural plant in winter for small insects.
Agastache or anise hyssop. A wonderfully fragrant plant with an elegant winter silhouette.
Dipsacus or teasel. This plant is very popular with goldfinches. The spiky seed heads are on the menu for small garden birds, making them a perfect addition to the garden.
Eryngium or sea holly. This plant also boasts a beautiful winter silhouette. Combined with its blue-gray color, sea holly makes an ideal border plant.
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In this video, Angelo teaches you all about planting autumn asters in the garden. This flowering plant adds a real splash of color to the border.
Autumn is bulb planting time
Autumn is the perfect time to plant flower bulbs. Flower bulbs need a cold period to awaken. By planting bulbs now, you're setting the stage for a colorful and beautiful spring. It's best to plant flower bulbs between September and December, with tulips only from the end of October. This gives the bulbs enough time to root calmly and prepare for the winter months.
Flower bulbs prefer a sunny spot in the garden but can also tolerate partial shade. Dig a hole two to three times the size of the bulb, so it stands firmly and is less likely to topple over when blooming. Be sure to consider the soil type as well. Since bulbs are prone to rot, it's best not to plant them in very wet soils. Enrich wet soil with compost or add some gravel to the planting hole. This way, water drains faster, reducing the risk of the bulbs rotting.
Place the flower bulbs with the tip facing up when planting, so the bulb can grow in the right direction. Plant small bulbs in small groups in the garden to make them stand out more and create a charming effect. Larger bulbs can be scattered randomly in the garden for a more natural look.
Winter is coming: the perfect time to maintain your garden tools
Quality tools are indispensable in the garden. You can prune more smoothly and neatly, digging becomes easier, and you can plant with greater precision. Since tools are exposed to moisture, dirt, and plant sap, it's important to take good care of your garden tools. This way, they last longer, stay sharp, and you won't need to buy new tools.
Before storing all your garden tools for the winter, it's best to give them a good cleaning.
- Remove the worst dirt and plant residues with a coarse brush and possibly some lukewarm water.
- Remove sticky plant residues with a drop of dish soap.
- Once everything is tidy and all residues are removed, you can use a wire brush to eliminate any rust.
- Is your pruner not cutting as smoothly as before? Use a whetstone to sharpen the cutting edge.
- Finally, coat the metal parts of your tools with a neutral oil, such as salad oil. The oil will form a protective layer that prevents rust. You can nourish wooden parts, like the handle, with linseed oil.
