autumn

Ten Crops to Sow Before Winter for an Earlier Spring Harvest

Autumn sowing lets hardy vegetables and herbs root in before frosts, so they spring into growth as soon as temperatures rise. With the right timing and bed preparation, you can harvest noticeably earlier in the new season.

5 min read

Planting Garlic Has One Rule Most Gardeners Break Right at the Start

Autumn is the ideal time to plant garlic, but timing it by soil and air temperature matters more than the calendar. Planting once temperatures stay below 9 °C and using good cloves in well-prepared soil sets you up for a strong spring start and a better harvest.

5 min read

Seven plants that turn tired window boxes into an autumn display and shrug off frost

As days shorten and mornings turn crisp, refresh summer window boxes with hardy, autumn-ready plants. These seven reliable choices bring colour, texture and staying power well into the first frosts.

5 min read

Tulips can still be planted in November, daffodils and hyacinths are at the last call

Bulbs are among the most rewarding ornamental plants, bringing strong colour from early spring through to autumn. Here’s when to plant each type, how to choose the right spot, and what to do if you’re running late.

5 min read

Your Garden Is Getting Ready for Winter, Essential Autumn Jobs Not to Skip

Autumn isn’t the end of the gardening year. With a bit of cutting back, planting, clearing and protecting now, you’ll reduce winter losses and give your garden a stronger start in spring.

5 min read

What to Cut Back in Autumn and What to Leave Alone

Autumn is the right moment to tidy perennials, shrubs and trees, but only when the cut suits the plant. Done well, it improves winter resilience, limits disease and sets plants up for a strong start next season.

5 min read

Gardeners strengthen roses before winter with a simple kitchen mix, no chemicals needed

To help roses overwinter well and bloom more strongly next season, focus on gentle autumn feeding, moisture management and sensible protection. A simple homemade mix from everyday kitchen scraps can support root health without resorting to harsh chemicals.

5 min read

Which Flowers Can Survive Frost Outdoors and Which Must Come Inside

As autumn arrives, some patio and balcony plants can stay outside through chilly nights, while others need bringing in before the first real frost. The key is a plant’s origin, hardiness, and the forecast—not the calendar.

5 min read

How to Protect Your Garden from Frost in Autumn and Spring

Frost can wipe out tender vegetables and herbs overnight, but a few well-timed steps can greatly reduce the damage. Learn which crops cope with cold, when to cover, and how water, mulch and smart garden layout help buffer temperature swings.

6 min read

Stop the spring slug battle before it starts

Tackle slugs where it really counts: their eggs. A careful autumn check of damp hiding places can significantly reduce next spring’s damage to seedlings and ornamentals.

5 min read

Autumn perennials bloom when everything else is winding down and keep the garden glowing until frost

When summer crops and bedding flowers are fading, the garden doesn’t have to look tired. Choose the right autumn-blooming perennials and you can enjoy rich colour right up to the first frosts.

5 min read

Egg Laying Drops in Autumn and Keepers Return to a Generations-Old Trick

As the days shorten and temperatures dip, many hens naturally slow down on egg production. A simple, traditional add-in of garlic with a tiny pinch of black pepper can help support the flock’s overall condition as autumn sets in.

5 min read

Autumn Care for Bay Laurel Keeps a Healthy, Bushy Shrub Full of Fragrant Leaves for Next Season

With the right autumn trim and a proper winter rest, bay laurel will stay dense, healthy and ready to put on strong growth in spring. Move it in before real cold arrives, water sparingly, and stick to light tidying rather than hard pruning.

5 min read

Raspberries, blueberries and elder need a different approach in autumn

Autumn is just as important for small fruit as spring and summer, but pruning at the wrong time can weaken plants before winter. Learn what to cut now and what to leave for late winter or early spring to protect next year’s crop.

5 min read

Gardeners Start Compost in Autumn for a Benefit Many Overlook

Autumn composting turns fallen leaves and post-harvest garden waste into a nutrient-rich soil improver. It also gives the compost heap time to break down over winter, setting beds and lawns up for stronger spring growth.

5 min read

Seven perennials to plant right now so they take off faster in spring than your neighbour’s

Autumn planting gives many perennials time to build strong roots in warm soil and cooler, moister weather. Come spring, they break dormancy faster, cope better with summer heat, and need less watering.

5 min read

Proper Fall Feeding Helps Orchids Bloom but One Mistake Can Ruin It

Orchids need balanced nutrition, but overfeeding in autumn can do more harm than good. The key is gentle dosing, feeding only after watering, and keeping roots healthy with the right light, moisture, and temperatures.

5 min read

How to Prepare Trees and Shrubs for Winter to Keep Them Strong and Healthy

Winter can be tough on garden trees and shrubs, from frost and drying winds to snow load and rapid temperature swings. With a few timely steps in autumn, you can boost resilience and reduce damage that’s hard to fix in spring.

5 min read

A tree or shrub planted properly in autumn can outpace spring stock and improve fruiting

Many fruit trees and soft-fruit shrubs establish better when planted in autumn, because roots keep growing while the top is dormant. Done well, this head start means stronger spring growth, less watering, and a healthier first year.

5 min read

Be careful with hydrangeas in autumn or one mistake will cost you blooms

Tidying up hydrangeas in autumn can be tempting, but cutting at the wrong time can remove next year’s flower buds. Everything depends on whether your hydrangea blooms on old wood or new wood.

5 min read

When to Prune Roses in Autumn for Safe Wintering and Heavy Bloom Next Year

Roses can look great well into late autumn, but a well-timed autumn prune helps them go into winter in better shape and reduces disease. Done at the right moment, it also prevents long canes from being damaged by frost, wind, or snow.

5 min read

What to Plant in an Autumn Bed So You Can Harvest Until Frost

Late summer warmth in the soil makes autumn sowings surprisingly fast to germinate, and many crops actually taste better after a light frost. With smart timing and a few reliable choices, you can keep harvesting right up to the first hard freezes.

5 min read