There are many reasons why autumn is the best time to garden and why it is a season loved by so many. Not least because of the glorious changes in the tree canopy, stunning autumn sunsets, and warm days with blue skies but also because the soil is likely to be the ideal for planting. There will be more rainy days and chilly air, but autumn is a great time for nature walks, gardening and planning for the seasons ahead when the sun shines. Here are our top five reasons why we think autumn is the best time to garden.
1. Planting time
Did you know that autumn is an excellent time of year to plant shrubs, trees and conifers? There are so many plants that can be planted out during autumn to allow them to establish over winter that it is the ideal time of year. The soil will still be warm, there are likely to be far fewer pests, and before it gets too cold in winter or too hot in summer, your plants have the best chance to settle in and thrive.
2. Spring bulbs
It’s impossible to resist planting out some spring bulbs. As autumn and winter keep us inside more, when the first spring bulbs pop through the soil, it feels like everyone has come out of hibernation. Autumn is the best time to plant spring bulbs such as daffodils, crocus, tulips and alliums. There are so many to choose from, colours, shapes, and sizes, so now is the time to get them planted.
3. Health and happiness
When the weather turns cooler, we tend to go outside a little less. In fact, this is the time to make sure you do get outside because the fresh air can really lift your spirits. Gardening during autumn keeps your body active for physical exercise, and your mind is focused on preparing your garden for spring.
4. Switching up plants
Autumn means you can split many plants and replant - meaning more plants. It’s a time to move plants around if you want to change anything in your garden and to remove any old summer annuals to be replaced with autumn and winter colour such as heathers, pansies, violas, cyclamen and ivy.
5. More relaxed
The months of frantically sowing and then enjoying all the harvests will calm down a little during autumn, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to do in the garden - far from it - but it does mean you will get a bit more time to relax and make plans for your garden.
Switch up plants and get planting with a selection of autumn plants from in-store.
