Autumn Garden Checklist: Preparing for Winter

Planting

• Plant spring bulbs — tulips, daffodils, crocuses, and alliums now for a stunning spring display.
• Move tender plants like cannas and dahlias indoors before the first hard frost.
• Autumn is ideal for planting bare-root roses, hedging, and trees as the soil is still warm.

Tidying

• Rake fallen leaves regularly and add to a leaf mould pile — a brilliant free mulch in 12 months.
• Cut back spent perennials, but leave some seed heads for birds and beneficial insects.
• Clear vegetable beds of summer crops and sow a green manure to protect the soil over winter.

Lawn Care

• Scarify and aerate the lawn to remove thatch and improve drainage before winter waterlogging.
• Apply an autumn lawn fertiliser (high potassium, low nitrogen) to strengthen roots.
• Overseed any thin patches while the soil is still warm enough for germination.

Jobs for Late Autumn

• Clean and oil garden tools before storing for winter.
• Lag outdoor taps and pipes to prevent frost damage.
• Lift and store dahlia tubers in a frost-free place.

Tip: In Yorkshire, the first frosts typically arrive in October — get tender plants under cover well before then.