48 HOUR DELIVERY IS AVAILABLE ON *SELECTED ITEMS ORDER BEFORE 10:30AM MON – THURS | SHOP NOW PAY LATER WITH KLARNA | CALL US ON: 0330 133 0613
50% OFF SHIPPING – USE CODE: 50OFFSHIPPING23 AT CHECKOUT | CALL US ON: 0330 133 0613
As summer colours begin to fade and crisp autumn days arrive, now is the perfect time to give your outside space the attention it deserves. This article provides essential gardening tips for your autumn garden, helping you make the most of the season.
Autumn offers a key window to prepare your garden to flourish well into spring. With expert advice from Valley Contractors, this is your guide to making the most of the season – so your garden remains healthy, resilient and ready for growth, while planning and preparing for next year and next year’s plants.
Your lawn will have worked hard through the summer with sun, games or barbecues. To keep lawns and grass healthy, it’s important to collect fallen leaves regularly, as leaving fallen leaves on the surface can smother the grass and encourage disease. Raking leaves also allows more sunlight to reach your lawn, promoting healthy growth.
Autumn is the ideal moment to refresh, reseed and strengthen it before winter sets in. Start by aerating to ease compaction, then apply a thin layer of high-quality topsoil or soil mix to help loosen the surface and enhance drainage.
This supports fresh growth and readies the lawn for the colder months ahead. After several weeks of autumn growth, be sure to re-establish clean edges on your lawn for improved appearance and easier maintenance.
A layer of mulch is invaluable at this time of year. Mulching is an effective technique for improving water retention in the soil and protecting new plants by creating a barrier that helps maintain consistent moisture levels and shields roots from temperature fluctuations.
It helps insulate plant roots, retain moisture during dryer spells and fend off weeds as the season progresses. When applying mulch, be sure to keep it away from woody stems to prevent moisture buildup and potential rot.
Spread an organic mulch around shrubs, trees and perennial beds to create a tidy look now – and improved soil structure for the spring ahead. Use mulch to cover bare soil in beds and borders, which helps suppress weeds, enhance water retention, and improve overall soil quality. Ensure the soil remains moist but well-drained to promote healthy plant growth.
Autumn lends itself to reshaping your garden layout. Incorporating containers and pots into raised beds and borders can add height and texture, making your planting scheme more dynamic. Consider creating or refreshing raised beds and borders – these help with drainage when rainfall increases and bring structure to your planting scheme.
Decorative aggregates such as chippings or slate can be added to pathways or bed edges to reduce muddy patches and elevate the visual appeal, enhancing your outdoor space. Autumn is also an ideal time to plant deciduous trees, fruit bushes, and evergreen shrubs, as they establish better before winter than in spring.
As leaves fall and summer plants wane, it’s the perfect moment to start or replenish your compost heap. After gathering seed heads and plant material, consider leaving some seed heads to provide food for wildlife and insects through the colder months. Collecting fallen leaves to make leaf mould not only improves soil quality for future planting but also supports wildlife by recycling organic matter that can serve as habitat or food for insects and birds. Then add a high-quality organic compost to accelerate the breakdown. You can also sow green manure or green manures as crops, such as clover or vetch, to improve soil health for the next season. The result? A nutrient-rich soil amendment ready just when your spring planting begins.
Spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils, crocuses, and tulips should be planted in September, October, or November for best results. Plant bulbs while the soil is still warm to encourage strong root growth. Planting bulbs in autumn allows them to grow roots during the winter months, preparing them for spring flowering. For greater success, choose UK-grown bulbs.
Prepare the soil by working in a topsoil or soil-improver to enhance structure, drainage, and root establishment. As bulbs grow, they produce colourful flowers that attract bees and provide autumn colour in the garden. Ensure your bulbs receive adequate sunlight for healthy flowering and growing. A well-prepared bed now means more confident shoots and stronger bloom in the months ahead.
Late autumn often ushers in frosts, and the risk of winter frost can damage roots and destabilise vulnerable plants, making it essential to protect roots with proper mulching. When applying a layer of bark mulch or chippings around hedges, young trees and perennials, be sure to keep mulch away from woody stems to prevent rot and damage.
Putting the garden to bed for winter by finishing key tasks like mulching and pruning helps support plant health and wildlife. Leaving some fallen leaves and small leaf piles provides habitats for hibernating wildlife and insects. Monitor autumn weather closely to ensure timely protection against sudden cold snaps.
Consider adding features such as braziers or garden lighting to provide extra warmth and create a cozy outdoor environment during the colder months. A little protection now saves a lot of effort later.
At Valley Contractors we specialise in premium quality landscaping materials and supplies, with nationwide delivery and a reputation backed by hundreds of satisfied customers. Whether you’re a keen gardener or a landscaping professional, we offer the right soil, mulch, turf, bark and aggregates to suit your project.
From meticulous attention to product quality to practical advice shaped by real-world gardening experience – we’re here to help you create a garden that not only survives but thrives.
We’d love to see how your garden is shaping up for the season. Share your photos, tag us on social media or drop us a message – our team is always happy to chat through ideas or support your landscaping journey.
Autumn is more than just winding things down – it’s a strategic season that can make next spring’s bloom far stronger and healthier. With the right care and the right materials from Valley Contractors, your garden will be ready to bounce back beautifully. Let’s get started.
Brought to you by Valley Contractors – suppliers of premium turf, soil blends, composts and lawn care materials across the UK. Summer is the best
Are you confused about topsoil and compost? Don’t worry – many gardeners are! Let’s break down these garden basics in simple terms. What is Topsoil?
When you visit any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Control your personal Cookie Services here.
