10 Jobs To Do In Your Garden To Prepare For Autumn

It’s that time of year again. As we wave goodbye to the warmer days and light evenings of the summer months and autumn starts creeping in, the needs of our garden change.

The leaves are starting to fall from the trees, the temperature is dropping and the signs of winter are upon us. There’s lots to be done in the garden at the time of year to prepare for the seasonal weather changes.

So before you hibernate back indoors on the sofa for cosy nights by the fire, hot chocolates and movie nights, be sure to tick off your autumn garden to-do list so that your garden stays healthy, strong and picturesque throughout the autumn and winter.

Here are the top 10 things you should be doing in your garden right now:

1. Fence maintenance

Throughout the autumn and winter, rain, wind, ice and frost are inevitable. The last thing you want to be doing when it’s cold, miserable and rainy outside is fixing fences when they’ve become storm damaged.

Now is the time to get out there and ensure that your fence is ready for whatever the Great British weather has to throw at it.

Fix any loose panels, and wobbly posts and replace any rusty screws or nails.

Check for rot across your gravel boards, posts and panels and be sure to replace any timber fencing products that have been under attack from insects, moss and rot.

If your fence is beyond repair, this is a great time of year to replace your fence before the ground becomes saturated or too hard from frost.

For those that live in windy areas or are looking for a long-term, low-maintenance solution, it’s well worth considering concrete fence posts and gravel boards or DuraPost instead timber posts. They are just that bit more hardwearing and demand less maintenance and care.

And, if you’re not sure whether it’s time to replace your fence or salvage what you’ve got, take a quick read through this guide to have all of your questions answered.

2. Have a good tidy-up and store away

Leaving your BBQ and fancy garden furniture set out over the winter won’t do you any favours.

It’s time to pack down from the summer and protect your garden goods and belongings for next year.

A clean, dry shed is the perfect place to store furniture, garden toys, tools and decorations throughout the winter.

They are available in a range of sizes, so you can find something for all your storage needs.

And for those high-ticket items that need a little extra security, such as bikes, lawnmowers and tools, why not consider a security shed?

Don’t forget to have a good old-fashioned tidy-up.

Sweep away the leaves that have started to fall, jet wash your patio and clean down any muck, dirt and grime that has accumulated over the summer.

3. Ensure the shed a leak-proof

If you already have a shed, before you start piling it up with all your garden belongings, it’s worth having a check to see if it needs any care or maintenance.

You don’t want to wait until spring next year to find the roof is leaking or that there is dampness or rot that has spread into soft furnishings such as cushions and throws.

Give the shed a good visual inspection inside and out and take a brush to any dust, cobwebs or dirt before putting everything back inside.

And, if you do find a leak or signs of dampness, it may be time to re-felt your shed roof to ensure it has a waterproof seal throughout the rainy autumn and winter months.

4. Prep your log storage

Autumn and winter are all about those cosy nights in, wrapped in a blanket.

If you’re lucky enough to have a log burner or open fire in your home, ensure that your log store is stocked and rotated with ready seasoned and seasoning timber for those autumn and winter nights.

Remember seasoning wood needs to dry, so ensure that your log store is positioned in a sunny spot in the garden.

Have a sheet of tarpaulin ready to hand for when it rains, to keep your timber dry.

Ensure that your log store is in good repair.

If it’s collapsed and timber logs are sitting at ground level, rots and moisture will spread upwards through the log stack and your logs will be no good.

If it’s time to treat yourself to a log store, why not take a look at the stores available at Equestrian Fencing?

5. Get those winter veggies going

Just because the summer is over, it doesn’t mean that you have to drop tools on your home allotment.

Now is a good time to get those root vegetables in the ground ready for your Christmas dinner.

Clear out your fruit and veggie patches and prep the area for sowing. Unsure about what to plant this time of year? Ready our guide here.

And, if you’re new to growing your own, why not get the ball rolling now? Set yourself up for growing success with raised sleeper beds.

Why raised beds?

Raised sleeper beds are great for growing home veggies, especially through the winter as the sun can warm through the sleepers and around the bed to provide warmer growing conditions.

They also ensure that your veggie patches stay contained, and provide a rustic aesthetic feature to your garden.

Need some tips and ideas on how to build raised sleeper beds?

Click here to follow our easy DIY guide.

6. Clean your decking

It may seem counterintuitive, and you may well be wondering what’s the point of cleaning the deck if you’re not going to be using it until next spring, but this is an important job at this time of year.

Frequent use of your deck over the summer equals wear and tear.

Before the autumn truly kicks in, get outside and inspect your deck.

Look for signs of rotting and splitting and replace any broken, overly moist or crumbly components. If left, with ice, frost and rain, these rotting patches will worsen over the winter, spreading throughout the rest of the deck.

Give the deck a good sweep and even a jet wash down. This will also help prevent it from getting slippery over the winter from a build-up of moss and debris.

And of course, keep an eye out for any loose screws that need replacing.

7. Store away your bins

If you live in a windy area, you’ll know that bins have a mind of their own when it’s blowing a hooly outside.

Instead of worrying about your bins falling over, why not buy a wheelie bin store?

Not only does this stop bins from flying and flapping around the garden, but it’s also a far cleaner and tidier way to store bins.

You could also paint your bin store to match your garden design.

8. A little lawn maintenance

This year’s dry spell followed by the heavy rain has sent many lawns into a growing frenzy.

Many of us haven’t had to do much with the lawn all summer because of the drought, but now the new growth has come through, it’s time to trim back for the autumn.

You may also need to give your lawn a little TLC.

Because of the lack of rain, it may have grown back patchy. Or, if you have pets who dig and defecate on the lawn, the grass may be uneven or discoloured.

Sprinkle some grass seed down. It will have time to bud and grow before the winter kicks in, giving you a fresh and even lawn come spring next year.

9. De-weed and prune away

Again, this may seem like a spring or summer job, but getting on top of your weeding now will save time later on down the line.

It will feel like a mission and a half if you leave all of your weeding until next year, but what’s more, an overgrown space is an eyesore and uninviting.

Pull any weeds away, and cut back any overgrown hedges. Remove any deadheads and plants and tidy up your beds, pots and hanging baskets.

10. Make your own mulch

Weeding is a natural garden process. Rather than discarding your garden debris, make your own leaf mulch.

Sweep up any leaves and debris and put them into a compost-style bin. You’ll be grateful next year when you save cost on buying soil and compost mix for your summer flowers and planters.

Whilst you could go out and buy a purpose-built composter, you could also make your own using sawn planking.

And, if you already have a compost bin, now is a great time to have a clean-out and rotate, ready to start your composting process ahead of next year.

For tips on how to make your own DIY compost heap and advice on what you can and can’t put in your home compost heap, click here.

Find everything you need to get your garden autumn winter ready here