Autumn is the most important planning season in the garden. These ten small tasks make next year dramatically easier.
Autumn is not just a time for tidying. It is the season when next year's garden is mostly decided. Here are ten small tasks that pay off before the first frost.
- Test your soil and add lime or compost where it reads acidic.
- Plant garlic and broad beans for early spring.
- Divide perennial herbs and flowering plants before they go to sleep.
- Mulch beds once more before winter.
- Clean and sharpen your garden tools.
- Drain hoses and store them indoors.
- Compost summer plant debris (do not put diseased material in).
- Take a photo of the garden from one end — it helps you plan the next year.
- Write down what worked and what did not before you forget.
- Rest. The garden needs it, and so do you.