As the days grow shorter and the air takes on a crisp edge, the garden shifts gracefully into autumn — a season of golden leaves, softer light, and the occasional blustery shower. While it may feel like gardening is winding down, this is actually one of the best times of year to make a real impact: the soil remains warm enough for planting, and with a little planning and care, you can prepare your garden to shine through winter and get a head start for next spring. Just follow these top autumn garden tips.
Your local garden machinery dealer can help you make the difference with autumn garden tasks, from specialist equipment to expert servicing, they have the tools, machinery, and know-how to help you keep your garden looking its best. Use their expert advice with our handy tips to make the most of your outdoor space this season.
Autumn Garden – Leaf Clearing
Fallen leaves are nature’s soil enhancer. They improve soil health, attract worms that turn them into natural fertiliser, protect bare soil from winter weather, and even suppress weed growth. The only real need to remove them is when they cover drains; fall on paving, making it slippery; or collect on your lawn, where they can block light and damage the grass.
The golden rule for fallen leaves: if they fall on soil, leave them; if they fall on grass, collect them and put them to good use.
In small areas a rake is sufficient to clear leaves off your lawn, but using a leaf blower will make lighter work of clearing large areas, paths and driveways, allowing you to direct leaves on to the borders or into piles ready for collection. Available in petrol, electric, and cordless battery models a leaf blower could be the answer to your autumn leaf-collecting woes. Contact your local garden machinery dealer to get advice on the best model for your needs.
Lawn mowers are also a powerful tool for clearing leaves that have fallen on grass. When set to a high cutting height, they act like powerful vacuums, shredding leaves as they collect them in the grass box. This shredded material breaks down faster, making it ideal for composting or creating nutrient-rich leaf mould, while also saving space if you plan to compost leaves in storage bins or bags.
What is leaf mould? Leaf mould is a dark, crumbly, nutrient-rich soil conditioner and mulch created from the slow decomposition of fallen leaves by fungi over a period of 1-2 years. It’s gardeners’ ‘gold dust’— and can be used for mulching, as a potting mix, or as a fine compost for seedlings.
How to make leaf mould: Collect damp fallen leaves and store them in a contained uncovered pile or a plastic bag with holes poked in it. Then let it sit for 1-2 years to naturally decompose into a rich, dark, crumbly soil conditioner.
With just a little effort, fallen leaves can be transformed into a free, eco-friendly soil booster that benefits both your garden and the environment.
Autumn Garden – Lawn Maintenance
Autumn is the perfect time to give your lawn some much-needed care after the stresses of summer.
With cooler temperatures, more rain, and less foot traffic, conditions are ideal for repairing damage caused by wear, drought, and compaction. Follow our autumn lawncare plan.
Start by scarifying the lawn:
To remove excess thatch and moss, which can hinder healthy grass growth. This can be done with a long-tined rake for smaller areas or a scarifying machine for larger lawns. While the process can leave the lawn looking rough, it quickly recovers, resulting in thicker, healthier grass. Scarifying machines come in four main types: electric, petrol, cordless, and hand scarifies. Your local garden machinery dealer can help determine the best option for the size and condition of your lawn.
Aerate the lawn:
to relieve compaction and improve drainage. Use a garden fork to spike holes, or consider buying or hiring an aerator from your local garden machinery specialist for larger spaces.
Repair and improve the grass:
Take care of bald or thinning patches of grass by loosening the soil, scattering grass seed, and covering it with compost before watering in. For lawns prone to water-logging during winter, spread over a thin layer of sharp sand after aerating to improve soil drainage and help level the surface. Simply brush or rake sand into the holes created by the aeration process.
Autumn mowing:
As temperatures dip and grass growth slows down, start to raise the mower blades to around 4cm to allow more grass to photosynthesise, storing energy in the roots for winter. Mow less frequently, avoid cutting wet or frosty grass, and collect clippings to prevent disease. If your lawn needs an extra boost, apply an autumn lawn feed rich in potassium and phosphates to promote strong root growth and improve resilience for the following spring.
In autumn, damper grass means the mower is more likely to clog and cut grass can compact more easily under the deck. Regularly and safely remove any debris build up from the deck, blades, and other components using a brush and scraper, and contact your local garden equipment service centre for help maintaining your mower to keep in in peak condition and ready for spring.
Autumn Hedge and Shrub Care
Autumn is a crucial time for hedge and shrub maintenance, focusing on light pruning to enhance the health, structure and appearance of hedges, shrubs and topiary; and careful watering and mulching to prepare plants for winter.
How to prune in autumn: First remove any dead or diseased branches, and then neaten up the shape of shrubs with a light prune, avoiding heavy cuts that may stimulate tender new growth that’s vulnerable to frost damage. Any major pruning is best reserved for the plant’s dormant period, for most deciduous shrubs that’s roughly between November and March.
Choose the right tools for the job: Having the right tools and machinery is essential for clean cuts and maintaining plant health. Basic hand tools such as sharp pruning shears and loppers are ideal for light pruning and trimming smaller branches, and for larger hedges, a powered hedge trimmer can speed up the process.
Local garden machinery traders will offer a wide range of hedge cutting options to suit different gardening needs and budgets. For precise, small-scale trimming manual hedge shears, or lightweight electric or battery-powered hedge trimmers could be best. For larger or more challenging jobs, petrol hedge cutters provide the extra power and reach needed to tackle dense or overgrown hedges efficiently. For pruning jobs on large shrubs or trees, always consult a professional for advice, and ensure the job is carried out safely.
Your local garden machinery centre will always be able to provide advice on hedge care and be able to recommend the best options for your specific garden size and hedge type, along with servicing and spare parts to keep your garden equipment in top condition.
What to Plant in Autumn
The cooler temperatures and increased rainfall of autumn helps new plants establish strong roots before winter, making the season a great time for enhancing the garden with new trees or shrubs, and planting vegetable and flower crops to grow on in spring.
Deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs planted at this time will establish quickly before winter, benefitting from warm, moist soil without the stress of summer heat.
Flowers for next year can be sown now. Choose hardy annual seeds like calendula, sweet peas, and cornflowers, which can germinate and establish well before winter to bloom even earlier next summer. As blooms in the garden start to fade, why not invest in a few key plants to make a colourful planter for a prominent position – like outside the front door – to add some cheer on duller days?
Flower bulbs for spring or Christmas should also be planted now—look out for tulips, daffodils, and crocuses in garden centres, remembering as a general rule, bulbs should be planted at a depth of two to three times their own height.
In the vegetable garden, make autumn sowings of hardy vegetables like broad beans, garlic, and certain varieties of peas and onions, which can overwinter and grow on early in spring. Try sowing winter salad crops like lettuces and mustards, and hardy herbs like parsley and chives, and transplant seedlings before the cold sets in.
When planting in autumn, ensure the soil is well-prepared with compost or organic matter to improve drainage and nutrient content. Mulching around new plants helps protect roots from frost and retains moisture. Avoid planting in frozen or water-logged soil, as this can hinder root development.
With these tips and a bit of time this autumn, you can set your garden up for winter and for a strong and colourful start next spring. And don’t forget to utilise the expertise at your local garden trader for any machinery advice and new equipment you may need to help get your outside space looking its smartest this autumn, and throughout the year.
