A few garden jobs worth doing now

As the evenings are drawing in and the leaves are starting to fall, it's time to prepare the garden for autumn and winter.

Although I love to potter around the garden, my expertise is as a Declutter Coach and Home Organiser. So I asked garden designer Angela Davidson, of AMD Garden Design, to share her simple tips to prepare our gardens for autumn and winter.

Angela's passion for gardens is clear and she visibly lights up when she talks about the benefits of having access to a garden, not just for us humans but for nature too. Her skillful garden designs are creative and thoughtful.

We share the belief that our surroundings have a huge impact on how we feel and our sense of wellbeing. After all, we all need somewhere to reset, recharge and unplug from the day.

We also believe in working smarter, not harder! So, rather than looking at the whole garden and wondering where to start, we've picked out a few jobs that are worth doing now. A bit of preparation now, can save effort and money later on.

Start with the small jobs

If your summer annual plants have died off, throw the old compost onto your borders and give the empty pots a good wash before putting them away. Angela recommends using Jeyes Fluid or watered down disinfectant to help eradicate bugs.

It's also worth giving gardening tools some attention. Use WD40 to clean them and sharpen your secateurs so they're ready to use next time and don't forget your gardening gloves. Give them a wash and let them dry properly before putting them away.

None of these jobs take very long, but you'll be glad you did them when you come to use everything again.

Get your garden ready for winter

There are a few jobs that are worth doing before the colder and wetter weather really arrives.

Clean any garden furniture and outdoor rugs before storing them away or covering them over. If your decking needs a clean, now is a good time to do that too.

Angela also recommends using a paving cleaner on paths, patios and stepping stones to remove black spots. This can help prevent them becoming slipper over winter. If you have a hose, disconnect it and put it away.

It's a bit like resetting your home. A few small jobs now can make everything feel easier when you come back to it later.

Don't feel you have to tidy everything

This is one of my favourite tips from Angela because it goes againts what we might instinctively do.

You don't necessarily need to cut your perennials back. Plants with seed heads and berries are great for wildlife and can provide new seedlings next year, so leaving them in place can be better than cutting everything down.

The same applies to leaves. Clear them out of gutters and off the lawns, but leave them on the borders. They can provide extra nutrients and frost protection for the plants. The leaves you do collect don't need to go in the bin. Instead, you can make your own leaf mould by putting them in a bin bag, making a few holes and leaving the bag in a corner to break down.

So, not everything needs to be cleared away.

Have a look at your shed or greenhouse

This is where I'd add one of my own jobs.

Before putting everyting away for the winter, have a quick look at your shed or greenhouse. There's no need to empty the whole thing (in fact, please don't give yourself another enormous job to do!). Instead, ask yourself "Can I find what I need easily?"

If the answer is no, see if you can make a little more space or move the things you use most often during the winter to somewhere easier to reach.

It's also a good opportunity to notice anything that's broken, unused or duplicated. You might find you have three paris of secateurs when you only need one or two.

If you have pots that need protecting from the colder weather, move them somewhere sheltered or into a greenhouse, if you have one.

A little preparation can make a difference

You don't need to spend a whole weekend getting the garden ready for winter. Pick one or two jobs, get them done, then stop.

Maybe it's washing the pots. Maybe it's cleaning the garden furniture. Maybe it's sorting the corner of the shed you can never find anything in.

The same principle applies to our homes. You don't have to tackle everything to make progress. A few manageable jobs now can mean less effort later and when spring comes around again, you'll be starting from a much better place. In the meantime, you can enjoy your garden knowing you've given it a bit of care before winter arrives.

Got a garden design question?

Contact AMD Garden Design at Amdgardendesign.co.uk

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