Autumn is a good time to give your garden some TLC in readiness for the colder months and to prepare for next spring. You may be wondering why you should bother when there's little going on in the garden but there are a few things you can do in autumn that will ensure you reap the benefits come springtime. If it seems like a chore, it's still better to work on it every other week than to leave it to one big clear up at the end of winter!
Maintain patios, decks, lawns, gutters and ponds
Clear fallen leaves from your paths, patios, decks, lawns, gutters and ponds. Removing leaves from paths, patios and decks is not only important from a health & safety point of view (to avoid slips on wet or frozen leaves) but also to prevent the possibility of leaves rotting and leaving nasty stains, which will cause unnecessary work later on down the line! If you have overhanging branches, pruning them will reduce the amount of falling leaves and in the event of a storm will prevent them breaking off and causing damage. You can store bags of fallen leaves in your shed or garage, allowing them to rot safely until springtime when they'll provide you with free fertiliser to put on your garden in readiness for next summer!
Follow these general tips on cleaning or maintaining patios, decks, lawns, gutters and ponds this autumn.
- Patios & Paths: When cleaning your patio, be sure to follow advice given by the manufacturer, so as not to damage it and invalidate any warranty that may be offered. Pressure washing may not always be the best solution for certain patios - for example, with natural stone and concrete paving, it can dislodge the jointing material and damage the decorative face on concrete paving, exposing the aggregate within it. In this instance, use warm soapy water and a stiff broom, and if stubborn staining persists then specialist cleaning materials may need to be used. Again, where possible always check with the manufacturer, seek advice, or at the very least test a small inconspicuous area before you clean the whole patio or driveway with a pressure washer or use any patio cleaning product. Limestone, slate and granite are sensitive to acid based cleaners and so they are not recommended for those types of paving.
- Decks: Clear leaves and debris from timber decking with a stiff brush, then use a deck cleaning product, with a deck scrubber and a garden hose. This is the recommended way of cleaning decking because power washing can damage the boards if you're not careful. If you're staining or painting your deck afterwards, ensure the timber dries out completely before applying the stain, paint, or sealant, as otherwise you'll seal in moisture which will lead to rot and other problems later on. If you must use a pressure washer, it's recommended you use a machine with a maximum of 100-150 bar, stick to the lowest setting possible, use a fan tip nozzle, and test an inconspicuous area first, because pressure washers can cause the fibres to splinter if you apply too much pressure or place the tip too close to the deck surface. If you have composite decking, this generally needs virtually no maintenance other than a clean with warm soapy water and a soft bristle brush. However, do refer to the manufacturer's recommendations for treating any other persistent stains as the advice varies depending on the nature of the stain.
- Lawns: Leaves on lawns should be removed because they can suffocate the lawn and you'll be left with a muddy patch. If this seems like too much hard work, then consider the alternative of leaving the leaves until they're crunchy and when it hasn't rained. You can then mow over them to break them up, and leave them on the grass afterwards because they'll be small enough to be considered mulch and should keep the lawn healthy throughout winter. The recommended lawn treatment for autumn is to remove moss from your lawn using a rake then place it on the compost heap. Aerate the lawn using a garden fork, then brush in a sandy top dressing to improve the soil structure and drainage. An application of autumn lawn feed will aid strong root development and prepare your lawn for the cold months ahead. If you have an artificial lawn, you'll find it's mostly self-cleaning, however regular maintenance will ensure maximum life expectancy, as it's an outdoor product open to the elements. To reduce the risk of airborne weeds, remove leaves and debris using a leaf blower, a stiff brush or a plastic rake. You can then hose down the area with a light detergent and a stiff brush if necessary. If any areas have been heavily soiled and additional cleaning should be required, please refer to the recommendations given by the manufacturer.
- Gutters: Blocked gutters can cause damage to your property. So while autumn leaves are falling, clear your gutters and consider buying a gutter brush to prevent leaves landing in them next time. If your downpipe empties into an open gully, keep the grating clear to avoid flooding.
- Ponds: Rotting leaves will turn pond water foul and block pump filters, so save time and effort by catching falling leaves before they land in the water. You can do this by spreading a fine mesh net across the pond. Also, rake out excess vegetation from the pond as wildlife needs aquatic plants for shelter, but if you have too much it will choke the pond. Remove the leaves of dead flowers from any fading or overhanging plants. Blanketweed should also be removed, but as it may contain wildlife, it's recommended you leave it near the pond for a few days to let any creatures escape.
Other jobs you can do this autumn ...
- Cut back faded perennials but also spare a thought for insects and birds, and where possible leave a selection of them untouched as a winter habitat for insects. Birds will feed off seed heads, and these can also look attractive when autumn dew or frost appears on them!
- Check roofing felt on your shed. Use pressure-treated timber battens to fix down loose edges if necessary or replace the felt completely if it’s torn and no longer waterproof, to prevent the timbers rotting. Choose a dry weekend to paint all exposed timber, including fencing, with a suitable wood preservative.
- Although spring may seem such a long way away, when it finally comes around you'll be heartened to see bulbs poking their heads above the soil, with the promise of warmer weather to come. Plant some in the autumn and enjoy their vibrant colours next spring! Whether you're placing them in pots, flower beds, lawns or under shrubs, give them a good quality compost to get them off to the best possible start!
Autumn is a good time to give your garden some TLC in readiness for the colder months and to prepare for next spring. You may be wondering why you should bother when there's little going on in the garden but there are a few things you can do in autumn that will ensure you reap the benefits come springtime. If it seems like a chore, it's still better to work on it every other week than to leave it to one big clear up at the end of winter!
Maintain patios, decks, lawns, gutters and ponds
Clear fallen leaves from your paths, patios, decks, lawns, gutters and ponds. Removing leaves from paths, patios and decks is not only important from a health & safety point of view (to avoid slips on wet or frozen leaves) but also to prevent the possibility of leaves rotting and leaving nasty stains, which will cause unnecessary work later on down the line! If you have overhanging branches, pruning them will reduce the amount of falling leaves and in the event of a storm will prevent them breaking off and causing damage. You can store bags of fallen leaves in your shed or garage, allowing them to rot safely until springtime when they'll provide you with free fertiliser to put on your garden in readiness for next summer!
Follow these general tips on cleaning or maintaining patios, decks, lawns, gutters and ponds this autumn.
- Patios & Paths: When cleaning your patio, be sure to follow advice given by the manufacturer, so as not to damage it and invalidate any warranty that may be offered. Pressure washing may not always be the best solution for certain patios - for example, with natural stone and concrete paving, it can dislodge the jointing material and damage the decorative face on concrete paving, exposing the aggregate within it. In this instance, use warm soapy water and a stiff broom, and if stubborn staining persists then specialist cleaning materials may need to be used. Again, where possible always check with the manufacturer, seek advice, or at the very least test a small inconspicuous area before you clean the whole patio or driveway with a pressure washer or use any patio cleaning product. Limestone, slate and granite are sensitive to acid based cleaners and so they are not recommended for those types of paving.
- Decks: Clear leaves and debris from timber decking with a stiff brush, then use a deck cleaning product, with a deck scrubber and a garden hose. This is the recommended way of cleaning decking because power washing can damage the boards if you're not careful. If you're staining or painting your deck afterwards, ensure the timber dries out completely before applying the stain, paint, or sealant, as otherwise you'll seal in moisture which will lead to rot and other problems later on. If you must use a pressure washer, it's recommended you use a machine with a maximum of 100-150 bar, stick to the lowest setting possible, use a fan tip nozzle, and test an inconspicuous area first, because pressure washers can cause the fibres to splinter if you apply too much pressure or place the tip too close to the deck surface. If you have composite decking, this generally needs virtually no maintenance other than a clean with warm soapy water and a soft bristle brush. However, do refer to the manufacturer's recommendations for treating any other persistent stains as the advice varies depending on the nature of the stain.
- Lawns: Leaves on lawns should be removed because they can suffocate the lawn and you'll be left with a muddy patch. If this seems like too much hard work, then consider the alternative of leaving the leaves until they're crunchy and when it hasn't rained. You can then mow over them to break them up, and leave them on the grass afterwards because they'll be small enough to be considered mulch and should keep the lawn healthy throughout winter. The recommended lawn treatment for autumn is to remove moss from your lawn using a rake then place it on the compost heap. Aerate the lawn using a garden fork, then brush in a sandy top dressing to improve the soil structure and drainage. An application of autumn lawn feed will aid strong root development and prepare your lawn for the cold months ahead. If you have an artificial lawn, you'll find it's mostly self-cleaning, however regular maintenance will ensure maximum life expectancy, as it's an outdoor product open to the elements. To reduce the risk of airborne weeds, remove leaves and debris using a leaf blower, a stiff brush or a plastic rake. You can then hose down the area with a light detergent and a stiff brush if necessary. If any areas have been heavily soiled and additional cleaning should be required, please refer to the recommendations given by the manufacturer.
- Gutters: Blocked gutters can cause damage to your property. So while autumn leaves are falling, clear your gutters and consider buying a gutter brush to prevent leaves landing in them next time. If your downpipe empties into an open gully, keep the grating clear to avoid flooding.
- Ponds: Rotting leaves will turn pond water foul and block pump filters, so save time and effort by catching falling leaves before they land in the water. You can do this by spreading a fine mesh net across the pond. Also, rake out excess vegetation from the pond as wildlife needs aquatic plants for shelter, but if you have too much it will choke the pond. Remove the leaves of dead flowers from any fading or overhanging plants. Blanketweed should also be removed, but as it may contain wildlife, it's recommended you leave it near the pond for a few days to let any creatures escape.
Other jobs you can do this autumn ...
- Cut back faded perennials but also spare a thought for insects and birds, and where possible leave a selection of them untouched as a winter habitat for insects. Birds will feed off seed heads, and these can also look attractive when autumn dew or frost appears on them!
- Check roofing felt on your shed. Use pressure-treated timber battens to fix down loose edges if necessary or replace the felt completely if it’s torn and no longer waterproof, to prevent the timbers rotting. Choose a dry weekend to paint all exposed timber, including fencing, with a suitable wood preservative.
- Although spring may seem such a long way away, when it finally comes around you'll be heartened to see bulbs poking their heads above the soil, with the promise of warmer weather to come. Plant some in the autumn and enjoy their vibrant colours next spring! Whether you're placing them in pots, flower beds, lawns or under shrubs, give them a good quality compost to get them off to the best possible start!
