Autumn time is planting time
There are many things to do in autumn to keep busy in the garden and including lots of maintenance. Whether it’s raking the grass, cleaning up the garden, or prepping for next season, here’s a few things you could be doing this autumn garden…
Planting Bulbs
October and November are the best months for planting Spring flowering bulbs. As long as you ensure that your bulbs have good drainage and sunlight, you can plant them just about anywhere. Drainage is critical to keep bulbs from rotting. They like loamy or slightly sandy soil because it provides the drainage and nutrients they need.
Early-spring bloomers can be planted under deciduous trees where they’ll get enough sun to bloom before the tree’s leaves block out the light. However, they’ll only bloom well the first year, as they’ll need sunlight later in the season for the leaves to gather enough energy for next year’s flowers.
Bulbs can be grown in many ways — formal gardens, meadow gardens, scattered in lawns, under trees, or strategically planted throughout beds and borders. Many bulbs will naturalise in an area and multiply, coming back year after year, so plan carefully and you can have years of enjoyment from one planting.
- Plant in clusters for greater visual impact. Take into account bloom time — plant a combination of early, mid- and late-season bloomers to extend the season.
- Hide dying foliage of low-growing bulbs that are past their prime with taller bulbs planted in front or with companion plants.
- Layer plant heights from front to back when planting varieties that will bloom at the same time.
- Many bulbs are perfect for container planting — bring them into view when blooming and move out of the way when foliage is wilting and when dormant.
- Plant closer together in containers than specified for in-ground planting.
- Bulbs can provide bright, vibrant colour — think about how those colours will blend with their surroundings.
Companion plants keep the planting area going when bulbs are dormant. Some good perennial companions are Sedum, Coreopsis, Thyme, hardy Geranium, Diascia, Brunnera, Hosta, Hellebores, or Dicentra.
Bulbs can be planted in layers by digging up an entire area down to the proper depth, placing the bulbs and covering; or in individual holes dug for each bulb. Individual planting is made easier with a bulb planter.
Determine the planting depth for the type of bulb you’re planting. If planted too deep, flowers will bloom late or not at all. If planted too shallow, new growth may become exposed too soon and risk damage by cold temperatures. If you are unsure of the exact planting depth, a good general rule of thumb is to plant the bulb 2 to 3 times as deep as the bulb is tall.
Prepare the soil by loosening and mixing in organic material if needed for added nutrients or to improve drainage. Special bulb fertilizer can be added; follow the package directions.
Place the bulbs with the pointy-end up and with the roots down. If you’re not sure of the top or bottom of the bulb, plant it on its side and it will find its way to the surface.
Cover with soil and a light layer of mulch.
Newly planted bulbs should be watered well to get settled in.
Autumn for laying turf
The best time to lay turf is during spring or autumn, when rain will help the new grass establish roots in time for summer sun or winter frosts. Prepare the ground by removing weeds and raking it level, then lay the turf so it overlaps slightly. Water it well and keep watering every few days so it establishes well.
Laying turf is the easiest way to create a new lawn, giving you a lush new lawn in just a few hours. Rolls of lawn turf cost just a few pounds each and usually comprise a mix of hard-wearing perennial rye grasses.
How to lay turf
- Spread a general-purpose fertiliser over the ground one week before laying the turf.
- Prepare the area, levelling the ground and removing big stones. If the surface is uneven, wheelbarrow in some topsoil, pour it on top and even it out with a rake. We recommend The Real Soil Company SuperLawn topsoil, which significantly boosts growth, health and thickness of your lawn.
- Firm the soil surface by walking up and down on it taking small, heavy steps. Fill any freshly-created dips with topsoil and compress again with your feet. Give the surface a final rake over.
- Lay the turf on the soil, staggering the joints like brickwork and overlapping them slightly. If it’s a big area, work off a plank of wood to avoid walking on the turf.
- To create a clean edge, cut off any excess turf with a spade or sharp knife. Bang the turf all over with the back of the rake to ensure they make contact with the soil before giving the whole area a good water.
- It will take a few weeks for your lawn to establish and in that time it’s essential you don’t let the turf dry out; so water them regularly. Start mowing when the grass is 2.5cm – 5cm high, never removing more than one third of the total height of the grass at a time.
Getting creative with Sleepers
Versatile, sturdy and budget-friendly, timber sleepers are a fantastic choice for garden landscaping projects. Ideal for contemporary builds or adding natural design elements to your garden, sleepers can be used for anything from planting to construction.
Once you have mastered the basics of working with sleepers the creative options, projects and finishes are endless.
Raised sleeper beds, one of the most popular uses for garden landscaping, raised sleeper beds are a contemporary and stylish choice for zoned planting. Helping to reduce weeds and keep away slugs, raised beds can help to reduce compaction, increasing soil drainage for improved conditions and a longer growing season.
Sleeper pathways, whether a winding walkway or a diverted route through your turfed area, sleeper paths are a great way to break up your garden while introducing a more rustic and natural look to your outdoor areas.
We sustainably source two different types of new sleepers. Softwood and hardwood.
Our treated Softwood Sleepers are green tanalised. Treated at high pressure, this ensures that the treatment penetrates deep into the timber helping it to remain rot resistant & strong.
2.4m x 20cm x 10cm £25 each or 10 for £225
Our treated Hardwood Sleepers are brown tanalised. Treated at high pressure, this ensures that the treatment penetrates deep into the timber helping it to remain rot resistant & strong.
2.4m x 19.5cm x 9.5cm £32.50 each or 10 for £300.
Halloween in the garden
If you want to give trick-or-treaters (or your own kids) a haunted house experience this Halloween, why not go for a haunted garden instead?
Decorating the garden is a great way to get your street into the Halloween spirit, as well as letting the local children know that you are happy to have visitors in the run-up to Halloween.
We will continue to look at sustainable gardening over the next few months. Until then Happy Gardening! 🍂