As summer draws to a close, there are a number of jobs gardeners can tackle to get their outdoor space ready for the change in season. This article looks at six key tasks covering lawns, pruning, borders, beds, fencing and timber care, along with the Lumberjacks products that can help get these jobs done.
Getting ahead now, while the weather is still on your side, can save time and hassle once the wetter, colder months arrive.
This article is a three-minute read.
It might still feel like summer is still with us, but the nights are drawing in, and gardens will soon need to cope with cooler, wetter conditions. Getting a few key jobs done now, while the weather is still on your side, will make life much easier once autumn arrives.
Here, Lumberjacks, who supply gardening and landscaping products from our Ipswich base, run through six autumn garden jobs Suffolk homeowners should add to their to-do list this month.
1. Give Your Lawn Some Late-Summer Attention
This summer has been particularly tough on lawns. Therefore, it's worth checking for any particularly thin or bare patches that have developed during the heat. Early September is widely considered one of the best times to sow or overseed grass seed in the UK, as warm soil and more reliable rainfall give new grass the best chance to establish before winter.
If your lawn needs a top-up, clear away debris and loosen the soil now so it's ready to go. We stock fast-growing lawn seed at our Ipswich base for repairing worn patches ahead of autumn.
2. Prune, Deadhead and Cut Back
Deadheading spent flowers and cutting back tired perennials keeps borders tidy and can encourage one last flush of blooms before the season ends. It's also a sensible time to think about hedges. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds advises that the main bird nesting season runs from March through to September, so it's always worth checking carefully for any nests still in use before reaching for the shears; the safest window for major hedge work is generally from September onwards.
Once you've built up a pile of cuttings, a sturdy wheelbarrow makes light work of getting it all to the compost heap.
3. Tackle Your Borders
Weeding, dividing overcrowded perennials and tidying edges all help borders look their best heading into autumn, while giving plants more room and fewer competitors for moisture and nutrients.
Once a border is weeded and tidy, a fresh layer of mulch such as ornamental bark helps lock in moisture, suppress new weeds and keep beds looking neat for months to come. We stock ornamental bark, which is available in 70-litre bags or in bulk.
4. Prepare Beds for Autumn Planting
Digging in well-rotted compost or organic matter now improves soil structure ahead of autumn planting, giving new shrubs, bulbs and bedding plants the best possible start. It's also worth considering drainage, particularly in parts of the garden that tend to get waterlogged once the rain sets in.
If poor drainage is an ongoing issue, a raised bed can help. Our range of sleepers can provide the basis for a sturdy, attractive raised bed for flowers and vegetables alike.
5. Check Your Fencing and Gates
Give fence panels, posts and gates a proper once-over, looking for any looseness, rot or damage that has built up over summer. It's far better to catch a problem now than to have a panel blow over in the middle of storm. Hinges, latches and gate hardware are also worth checking, as these can seize up if left unattended.
We supply fencing and gates, including DuraPost, a lightweight steel alternative to timber posts that won't rot or twist. If a panel needs replacing rather than repairing, we've covered this in more detail in a previous post about tips on fence repairs and replacements.
6. Protect Timber and Garden Furniture
Before wetter autumn weather sets in, it's worth treating sheds, fences and decking with a wood preserver, which helps guard against mould, rot and Ultra Violet light damage over the months ahead. It's also a good time to think about garden furniture that won't be used as much – covering, cleaning or storing it away will help it last that much longer.
We stock Barrettine's wood protector in a range of colours, that is suitable for sheds, fences, trellis and pergolas, as well as wooden garden furniture.
Get Ready for Autumn with Lumberjacks
Whether it's lawn seed, a fresh layer of bark, or a can of wood preserver, Lumberjacks can help you tick off your to-do list for autumn. We supply a wide range of gardening and landscaping products from our Ipswich base, and deliver across Suffolk, including Felixstowe, Woodbridge, Stowmarket and Hadleigh, as well as into Essex and Norfolk.
If you have any questions about which products are right for your garden, call us on 01473 461394 or fill in our online contact form, and we will be happy to help.
