If you’ve noticed the temperature dropping and your plant's growth slowing, it’s time to start preparing for the colder months. Autumn lawn care is crucial in setting your garden up for success, allowing it to thrive in spring. Whether your goal is growing vegetables or protecting your lawn, now is the time to start preparing.
If a vegetable garden is on your to-do list for the colder months, then you need to start preparing the soil. Make sure you remove spent summer plants, weeds and debris, as well as loosen the soil to improve aeration. Adding organic matter such as compost will enhance your soil structure, giving your winter plants a healthy environment to grow in.
There are plenty of winter crop options to choose from! These may vary depending on where you live, but our favourites include:
It’s easy to get caught up in your plans for new gardens, but it’s important to remember to maintain your lawn, especially throughout the colder months. Ensure you aerate the soil to allow nutrients and water to easily reach the roots. You can also give your lawn a boost by using fertiliser suited to your grass type. Make sure you gradually reduce your mowing height, as cutting grass blades too short can weaken the grass.
Now that you’ve organised your garden for autumn, it’s time to clean up ahead of winter. This is the perfect time to get on top of any garden pests and diseases before spring starts. Ensure you remove any diseased plants, fruit and leaves from your garden and place these in the bin - you don’t want to re-introduce these diseases through compost.
Review your garden and identify if there are any dead spaces lacking colour, any places that would benefit from grass or other foliage plants for year-round interest, or if any plants are underperforming. If you identify any areas you want to change or that need some extra love, you can spend the cold months ripping up unwanted plants or organising new garden beds for spring.
If you’re in an area that is prone to frost, you’ll already know how damaging this can be for your garden. To aid your winter garden, spread some mulch around your plants. This acts as an insulator and creates a barrier between the cold air and soil, removing stress from your plants.
Knowing when to water your plants during winter is key. Check the soil first to establish if it’s time to water, ensuring to only do so when the soil feels dry. Water your plants in the morning to allow the water to soak the soil and reach the roots before the colder night temperatures increase the risk of frost damage.
Following these tips can help you create a healthy and thriving garden all year round. For personalised advice, visit your local dealer, they’ll be able to answer all of your lawn care questions.
