Make the Most of Mild Autumn Days

Autumn in the UK is a gift for gardeners. The soil is still warm from summer, the air is crisp, and there is a long list of jobs that will pay you back tenfold next spring. The trick is to work with the weather, not against it. On dry, bright days, get outside and tackle the bigger tasks. On wet days, retreat to the shed and sort your tools. Either way, a few hours now will save you weeks of catching up later.

Start by walking around your plot with a notebook. Empty spent pots, cut back faded perennials, and pull up tired annuals. Leave some seedheads standing for the birds — they add winter structure and a little life to the border. Then tackle the jobs below while the ground is still workable.

Clear Fallen Leaves and Make Leaf Mould

Fallen leaves are the most valuable free resource in your garden — but only if you gather them before they smother the lawn. A thick, wet layer blocks light and air, encouraging moss and disease. Rake them up every week or so, especially after rain. If you have a large lawn, a lawnmower with a collection box will shred and collect leaves in one go, speeding up decomposition.

Do not bin them. Make leaf mould instead:

• Use a simple wire cage or bin bags with a few holes punched in the sides.
• Keep leaves damp but not sodden, and turn the pile occasionally.
• Oak, beech and hornbeam break down slowly; sycamore and lime are faster.
• After a year or two, you will have a crumbly, dark leaf mould to use as mulch or seed compost.

While you are at it, clear gutters, drainpipes and paths. Slippery leaves on paving are a hazard, and blocked drains can cause damp problems later.

Plant Garlic, Onions and Shallots

Garlic is one of the easiest and most rewarding crops to plant in autumn. It needs a cold spell to split into cloves, so planting now gives you bigger, better bulbs than spring planting. Choose a sunny, well-drained spot that has not grown onions or garlic recently. Dig in plenty of compost, but avoid fresh manure, which can rot the cloves.

Break a bulb into individual cloves just before planting. Push each clove, pointed end up, about 5 cm deep and 15 cm apart, with 30 cm between rows. Cover with soil and a layer of mulch. In cold, wet areas, plant in raised beds or pots. Birds sometimes pull cloves out — a layer of fleece or netting stops them. Water only if the weather is dry. Hardneck varieties are hardier; softneck types prefer milder southern gardens.

You can also plant autumn onions and shallots in the same way. They will settle in before the frosts and give you an early start next year.

Mulch Borders and Protect Tender Plants

Mulching is the single best thing you can do for your borders before winter. A thick layer of well-rotted manure, compost or bark chips suppresses weeds, locks in moisture and insulates roots against frost. Wait until the soil is damp but not frozen, and the ground has cooled after summer. Aim for a layer 5–8 cm deep.

Keep mulch clear of stems, trunks and crowns — a mulch collar can cause rot. Spread it around roses, shrubs, fruit bushes and perennials. Do not mulch dry soil; water first if needed. For tender plants, wait until after the first frost, then apply a deeper mulch of straw or bracken.

• Lift terracotta pots onto feet or bricks to prevent waterlogging and frost damage.
• Wrap large pots in bubble wrap or hessian for insulation.
• Move tender plants into a greenhouse, porch or cold frame.
• Cut back faded perennials but leave some seedheads for birds and winter structure.

Clean, Sharpen and Store Your Tools

Before you hang up your tools for winter, give them a little care and they will last for years. Dirty, blunt tools make gardening harder and can spread disease. Start by removing soil and sap with a wire brush or stiff bristle brush. Sharpen secateurs, loppers and shears with a diamond file or sharpening stone.

Wipe metal parts with an oily rag to prevent rust. Wooden handles benefit from a rub of linseed oil. Store tools dry, preferably hanging up, not in a damp corner. A bucket of sand mixed with a little oil is a traditional way to keep small tools clean and rust-free.

• Clean and oil the lawnmower, strimmer and hedge trimmer.
• Drain hoses and store them coiled indoors.
• Wash plant pots and seed trays in warm soapy water.
• Check and repair greenhouse glass, gutters and netting.

With those jobs done, you can enjoy the changing colours, knowing your garden is tucked up for winter and ready to burst into life again next spring.