Preparing for the autumn

Autumn prep means new jobs to think about, says Ruth

- Ruth Hayes

I KNOW we’re still in the midst of summer, but boy, the mornings are starting to feel autumnal and the leaves on our Amelanchier lamarckii are turning glorious shades of red and bronze. It’s time to reluctantly turn our thoughts towards the third season of the year that heralds the onset of winter and the garden’s dormancy.

However, it isn’t all about closing down and going into hibernation. Autumn is also a very productive and positive season.

There are crops to harvest, bulbs to plant, and late-blooming plants such as dahlias, chrysanthemums, nerines and residual summer bedding will still be providing a riot of colour, offset by the changing leaves.

One of the most important jobs now is conditioning and replenishing your soil after the hard weeks of growing. If you make your own compost (and why wouldn’t you!?) layer it over your cleared beds, several inches thick.