Putting the garden to bed: an autumn tidy checklist
Autumn is the garden's changeover season in Christchurch. A solid tidy now means fewer weeds, healthier plants and a much easier spring. Here's the checklist we work through on autumn maintenance visits.
Clear the leaf fall
Fallen leaves smother lawns and turn paths slippery. Rake or mow them up regularly through April and May — shredded leaves make excellent mulch for beds, so nothing goes to waste.
Cut back spent growth
Perennials that have finished flowering can be cut back, and summer annuals pulled out. Leave anything with seed heads the birds enjoy, and hold off on frost-tender plants until the last frosts have passed.
Weed once more, properly
One thorough autumn weed — roots and all — stops weeds seeding over winter and exploding in spring. Pay special attention to paths, edges and the backs of beds where weeds hide.
Feed and mulch beds
A layer of compost or mulch over bare soil feeds the worms, suppresses winter weeds and protects roots from frost. Autumn soil is still warm enough for all that biology to get to work.
The short version
Clear leaves, cut back, weed thoroughly, mulch generously. An autumn visit from our garden maintenance service gets all of it done in one weekday hit — and sets your garden up for a flying start in spring.