The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness can also be a season fraught with problems for gardeners.
Whether it is warm and dry, or cool and damp, autumn creates conditions that help pests and diseases flourish.
When the weather is still, warm and dry you will get powdery mildew dusting the leaves of your plants, while rusts that can be prevalent on chrysanthemums and hollyhocks will also thrive.
Cooler, damper weather brings out the slugs and snails and also causes fungi to erupt from our lawns and damp areas where decaying vegetation has piled up.
This year our courgettes have been struck by powdery mildew, there are a few signs of rust on the hollyhocks and a little fairy ring has popped up in the lawn.
I am not too disturbed about the latter as the toadstools are saprophytic fungi, feeding on dead plant matter in or under the lawn (probably the roots of a dying tree we removed) and I can get rid of them by sweeping a rake over the top.
Denne historien er fra September 04, 2021-utgaven av Amateur Gardening.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra September 04, 2021-utgaven av Amateur Gardening.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
To dig or not to dig?
Should we be carrying out a full dig on plots now? Bob considers the pros and cons of the 'autumn dig' debate
The box ball blues
As if his beleaguered box hadn't already taken a beating, Toby now has to deal with some hungry box caterpillars
Save your own seeds
Masterclass on: seed saving
Strange sightings
Three unusual insects turn up in Val's garden in one day
A bolt from the blue!
Cornflowers are perfect for garden and vase
Winter moth prevention
Ruth shows you how to avoid maggoty tree fruits
Create a winter container
There are as many options as in summer
Lightweight gardening tools
AS well as being good for our mental health, gardening is also great exercise.
Autumn price round-up
AG finds better bargains in lesser-known brands
Rudbeckias
Rudbeckias are ideal for sunny summer patios and borders, with some able to survive our coldest winters
