THERE was a large lawn in the country garden of my childhood, which was dotted with specimen ornamental trees and several beds containing an array of shrubs. An old hedgerow of native species formed the boundary down one side, while indigenous trees loomed in the adjacent field.
I can recall the amazing display from the many deciduous species in autumn, but the downside was that all their falling leaves ended up in our garden, clogging up beds and smothering the grass. Some of these found their way into the compost heap, but most were consigned to an incinerator.
As a result of my early experience, I grew up thinking that burning was the most effective way of dealing with the glut of leaves that drop in autumn and winter. It was only when I landed a job at a local horticultural college that I learned how all that spent foliage could be turned into leafmould.
Denne historien er fra October 12, 2019-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 October 12, 2019-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