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Late
autumn
This is the season for bonfires, and for gathering
up leaves to add to the summer’s lawn mowings
to make compost.
Plant bare-rooted trees and shrubs
while the weather permits, and protect hellebores
from mud splashes. They will reward you with their
waxen blooms in the depths of winter.
TREES
AND SHRUBS
Continue to plant deciduous trees and shrubs.
Protect tender specimens and exposed conifers
which are prone to windburn by surrounding them
with a windbreak material such as plastic sheeting.
Cover winter and spring-flowering shrubs with
netting to deter bullfinches from eating the immature
flower buds.
Bring container-grown fuchsias
and hydrangeas into cold greenhouse or shed to
over winter.
CLIMBERS
Check all supports and make sure that ties are
well secured, making any necessary replacements.
ROSES
Plant bare-rooted roses as soon as possible. Prune
back any damaged roots to sound wood, and prune
stems as necessary before planting.
HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS
Plant primulas
and polyanthus.
ALPINES
Protect grey-leaved plants, and any tender specimens,
with sheets of glass (secured against wind damage)
or open ended cloches.
Mulch hardier plants with a layer of fine gravel
under the foliage, to prevent them coming into
contact with wet soil.
WATER AND BOG PLANTS
Overhaul pool pumps, fountains and filters.
BULBS, CORMS AND TUBERS
Complete planting of tulips.
Continue planting lilies.
ANNUALS AND BIENNIALS
Remove growing points on sweet
peas sown a few weeks ago.
LAWNS
Lay turf on earlier prepared ground.
Dig over any areas to be seeded in spring, and
leave ground to be broken up by winter frosts.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Ventilate cold greenhouses and frames whenever
the weather permits, to allow air to circulate
and to prevent the build-up of diseases such as
botrytis (grey mould).
Keep lawn and beds free of fallen leaves –
which can be gathered and used on the compost
heap or spread around any tender plants to protect
them from frost.
Re-firm the soil around plants which may have
loosened after periods of wind and rain or frost.
Next:
Early Winter
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