As summer draws into autumn, it’s a great time to review and renew your garden. Here are some thoughts on making the most of autumn in your garden and planning ahead for next summer.
Making the most of your garden this autumn
Shorter days and cooler evenings needn’t mean that your garden becomes out of bounds. For our wellbeing, it’s important to spend as much time outdoors as possible. And your autumn garden has the potential to hold many joys.
Autumn colour
Fill your beds and borders with colourful berries, beautiful foliage, and late performing flowers. If that sounds daunting, why not plant up some autumnal containers and pop them somewhere where you can enjoy them from inside the house.
Lighting
As the nights draw in, garden lighting comes into its own. It means you can extend the amount of time you spend out of doors. True, you might need to pop a jumper on or wrap yourself in a cosy blanket but it’s worth it – all that fresh air will help you sleep better. Nothing beats sitting outdoors chatting or reading as you hug a mug of steaming hot chocolate.
Try hanging some festoon lights over your seating area. Or pop a few cost-effective solar lanterns around the garden. If you are thinking of re-landscaping your outdoor space – make a note to integrate some lighting. Recessed lights will take your decking or patio to a whole new level and every path deserves to be well lit, for safety if nothing else.
Staying warm
Autumn days can be a little chilly, and the evenings are decidedly nippy, but there are some really simple things you can do to remedy that.
Create an arbour – a sheltered spot out of the wind and preferably somewhere that it catches the sun. Are you a morning person or an afternoon person? Take note of where your garden is sunniest at your favourite time of day and put your seating area in that spot.
Invest in a fire pit. I love a firepit, mine is in use all through autumn and sometimes well into the new year. It’s amazing how much heat they generate and how they create a relaxing atmosphere. Some firepits double up as an outdoor kitchen – use it to warm soup or sizzle some sausages.
Good old fashioned blankets. Choose garden furniture that can be cosied up with cushions and blankets for those autumn afternoons. Add in the shelter of a summer house or a pergola and you’ll create the perfect place to curl up with a book. Or take your laptop outside to catch up on a box-set.
Release your inner child and enjoy sunny autumn days in your garden
What would you change about your garden?
Autumn is a great time of year to plan any changes to your garden. Make yourself a cup of tea and head outdoors with your notebook and pen to reflect on the summer just gone. What would you have done differently if you could?
- Did you spend as much time in the garden as you could have? If not, why not?
- Is your garden too hot in the summer? Does it need more shade?
- What about interest – is your garden engaging or is it a bland, boring space with nothing to hold your attention?
- Safety – are your paths crumbling and dangerous? Are surfaces slippery and worryingly unsafe?
- Privacy – is your garden overlooked? Does that put you off spending time out of doors?
- Are you so overwhelmed by the thought of gardening work that you don’t want to step outside?
- What would make your garden better for you? Less maintenance, more privacy, space for cooking and eating?
Preparing your garden for next summer
Believe it or not, Farmers see autumn as the start of the year – and you should be thinking the same way about your garden.
This is the best time of year to establish hedges, plant trees, and lay new turf. It’s also time to plant spring-flowering bulbs and sow perennial wildflower seeds.
If you are planning a major overhaul of the garden, now is the time to engage a landscaper to do the work. Most landscapers get booked up well in advance, so if you want your garden made over in time for summer, you need to get yourself added to a waiting list.
Not sure how to go about re-designing your garden? Start by getting in touch with a reputable landscaper, preferably a member of the APL (association of professional landscapers). APL members are regularly vetted for their standards of workmanship and the integrity of their business. You know you can trust them. Your landscaper will help you to commission a garden design that will meet all of your needs as well as your build budget.
Manor Landscapes are proud to be members of the APL. You can contact us here.