02/10/2019
October is here and marks the beginning of Autumn, which for many means cosy nights in and fun festivities to look forward to, but as a Gardener there's much to be done. This is the time to give our garden a real clean up and tidy in preparation for the cold weather to come. What should you focus your attention on?
Clean and clear everything from the greenhouse to help prevent pests and fungal infections.
Tidy up borders- Once your borders are clean and tidy, spread a thick layer of compost, bark chip or well rotted manure.
Remove thatch and moss from the lawn- Once done, consider making deep holes with the prongs of a garden fork at 10cm intervals to improve drainage and aeration.
Clear out the compost bin and use around the garden making room for this years plant material.
Plant Evergreens to provide structure and interest during the drab months.
Net Ponds to save blocked filters and pumps from decomposing leaves.
Maintain garden equipment so it's ready for next spring.
We highly recommend making Leaf Mould as it adds organic matter and is great for enriching soil it is also a great way to recycle fallen leaves and it costs nothing. How do you make Leaf Mould?
Fill several heavy-duty dustbin bags with leaves and then wet them to encourage them to rot.
Using a rake, pierce holes in the bags, most importantly at the bottom.
Fold the tops of the bags to stop the leaves from falling out but don't tie them up.
Store the bags out of sight ensuring that the bottom of the bags are in contact with the soil rather than storing them on concrete. This will allow worms and other organisms to enter through the holes.
Occasionally during dry periods you can wet the leaves again to speed up the process.
After a year or so, the leaf mould will turn into a great w**d suppressing mulch. After 2 years, you will have a fine mould perfect for soil conditioning and making composts.
It's worth noting that Oak, Alder, Beech and Hornbeam rot fairly quickly while Sycamore, Walnut, Horse Chestnut and Sweet Chestnut may take a little longer. Shredding the leaves first will help to speed things up, but in general the process takes about two years.
If you need help with any of your Autumn gardening jobs, whether it be clearing out the greenhouse, planting your evergreens or help making Leaf Mould, the team at PPM Flat Maintenance are well equipped and ready to get your garden in shape. Why not check out what we can do for you by visiting www.flatmaintenace.co.uk, or give us a call on 020 8432 3221 today!
