A Tree Surgeon’s Guide to Autumn

Autumn is here. Here are some of the things you may want to consider in your outdoor space this cosy season.

As the summer months draw to a close, the long days and warm weather are blown away. A stiff breeze has set in that brings drizzles and deluges. The countryside sheds its deep greens and sun bleached yellows in favour of shades of ochre and auburn. It feels like a time for hibernating; For wrapping up warm and reading a good book. As you look out on your garden you see a carpet of fallen leaves. It’s autumn. What should you do now?

Garden Maintenance

The autumn may feel like a subdued season, but it is a great time to be active in your garden or outdoor space. Garden maintenance might have taken a back seat during the summer (lots of jobs are hard to do, or are not worth doing at this point anyway). Look ahead at the autumn months with optimism because there is much to do.

Fertilise Plants

During the warm months of the year your soil may have lost nutrients. You can apply fertiliser to ensure your plants and trees go into the latter stages of the year strong. This will help them defend against disease and the weather.

Mulch

A layer of mulch helps the soil retain moisture which reduces the need for watering. It also insulates the soil, keeping it warmer and staving off any root damage caused by cold weather. Mulch can also be pleasing to the eye, adding a tidy finishing touch to your plant bed.
Try to avoid your mulch coming too close to the base of your plants as this could soften the plant and leave it susceptible to disease.

Watering

Rainy weather will do most of this for you, but it is worth keeping an eye on the soil. Water your plants and trees when you think it’s necessary.

Pruning

For some trees, autumn is a suitable time of year to prune them. Make sure you identify the tree and do some research on when is best to prune because it varies. Note that pruning will also impact the growth of the plant for the year ahead. For deciduous trees, the tree structure becomes more visible during this time of year which can make pruning easier.

Planting

Although it is a dormant time for most plants, autumn can be a great time to add some new life to your outdoor space. For some plants, like rootball trees, this is a good time of year for them to settle into their new environment. Consider planting during this season.

Firewood

Winter is coming. Prepare your firewood and kindling for the cold months ahead. Any firewood should be kept covered and raised from the ground to keep it dry. You can do this in a shed or similar structure. Try to stack the wood so that air can flow through it, drying it further. There’s nothing as cosy as roaring flames in a log burner.

So while you’re sipping on your hot chocolate, watching the rain through your window, maybe now you have some inspiration for what you can do in your garden this autumn.

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