He’s a magnificent broadcaster, gifted gardener, brilliant author and all-round horticultural visionary. This month, Alan Titchmarsh talks about the incoming colder weather, with the recommendation to embrace it, rather than fear it!
Last month we spoke about tidying up the falling autumn leaves as the weather begins to cool down, and cool down it will. Sure enough, as the days grow shorter and the air turns crisper, it is tempting to retreat indoors and lament the passing of summer.
However, the changing season has its own charm and opportunities for your garden, so with that in mind, here’s how you can embrace those admittedly colder conditions and make the most of what autumn and the ensuing winter have to offer.
First off, it’s a brilliant time to plant evergreen shrubs. The soil is still warm enough to help them establish roots before the harsher winter weather arrives. These hardy plants will provide your garden with much-needed structure and greenery, no matter how bleak it gets.
Next, don’t forget to protect your tender plants because as the frosts become more likely, it’s crucial to shield those vulnerable vegetables and susceptible shrubberies from the cold. A bit of preparation now will ensure they survive and thrive when spring rolls around again.
For those of us with heavy clay soil, now is the time to get stuck into garden maintenance. Clear out any annuals and old vegetable plants and give your borders a good dig over before the winter rains arrive, because once the soil gets too wet, it becomes tricky to work with.
Finally, we’ve touched on this before, but make good use of your garden waste. Start a compost heap with a mix of about 30% green matter – grass clippings and kitchen scraps – and 70% brown material, such as fallen leaves and straw. This balanced blend will break down over the coming months, giving you rich compost to nourish your garden by May.
Ultimately, it’s all too easy to feel a bit down about the lack of sunshine and warmth, yet every season brings its own beauty and opportunities. Wrap up warm, get outside and enjoy the changing landscape.
Remember, autumn is a season of spectacular colours – one that will treat you to vibrant displays of reds, oranges and yellows. The combination of sunny days and cool nights enhances these hues, and a step into the garden, walk in the local park or stroll around the countryside can be incredibly uplifting.
So rather than let the rain, wind and overcast skies get you down, embrace them… they won’t be here forever!
