Autumn jobs that keep your garden healthy

Autumn is a key season for garden maintenance, giving you the chance to protect and improve your outdoor space before winter arrives. As the days shorten and temperatures cool, your garden begins to slow down, but the effort you put in now makes a lasting difference. By clearing what is left behind and strengthening the soil beneath, you prepare your plants to return with renewed energy when spring arrives.

Clear away spent plants

By October, many annuals have given all they can, and their tired stems only attract disease and harbour slugs. Pull them up and clear them to the compost heap. Perennials benefit when you cut back any faded growth, because clean crowns resist rot and pests over winter. You can also make space for bulbs such as daffodils and tulips, which settle better into soil free of old roots. A few hours of tidying in autumn results in avoiding a spring spent battling problems.

Enrich the soil for winter

Autumn gives you an ideal window to restore nutrients to the soil. After a season of supporting flowers and crops, the ground needs feeding. Work in well-rotted manure or compost for your garden, spreading a generous layer and letting worms draw it down over the winter. This improves structure and fertility, so heavy clay becomes easier to dig, and sandy soils holds moisture for longer.

Make the most of fallen leaves

Raking up leaves may feel like a chore, but they are a valuable resource to collect. Instead of bagging them for disposal, shred and pile them into a wire bin or a sturdy sack with some drainage holes. After a year, you will have leaf mould, a crumbly mulch that holds moisture and insulates roots. Spread it around shrubs or dig it into beds to add texture and resilience. 

Protect tender plants

Frost can kill more delicate plants in a single night, so shielding them now makes a real difference. Wrap fleece around dahlias, cannas and other borderline-hardy favourites, or place cloches over young vegetables. A thick mulch around the base of plants insulates roots, much like a blanket. These simple steps keep plants alive through the coldest spells, saving you the cost and effort of replacing them next year.

Tidying away old growth, enriching the soil, recycling fallen leaves and shielding tender plants are not just seasonal chores. Each job supports your garden’s health in practical, lasting ways. By giving a little time now, you will step into spring with fewer setbacks and stronger displays, and your garden will reward your autumn care throughout the year.