Is it time for a garden autumn refresh?
Autumn is a great time to take a good look at your garden and decide if anything needs changing. This might include moving plants to new homes, changing the shape of spaces such as lawn, flower beds and sitting areas.
Hedges and trees
Autumn is the right time to trim and reshape hedges and trees. Plants are moving into their dormant winter phase so cutting back now will allow the plant to over winter and be ready for spring. There are some exceptions. Any hedge, shrub or tree that flowers in early spring will be forming flowers on existing wood, and these need leaving, then cutting back after flowering. The Chopwell team will advise what to cut now and what to leave until next year.
Flowers, grasses and seed heads
Many plants have created seed heads after flowering. These may be looking untidy and it is tempting to cut everything back. But, these seed heads provide food for birds, homes for bugs and help biodiversity within your garden. Many of our clients compromise, leaving some areas for wildlife and tidying up where plants are flopping over paths or look unsightly.
Refresh flower beds
Although it is raining as write this, in general the ground is still quite dry and easier to dig over if you are planning to refresh flower beds. As plants are dying back it is a good time to move them, to divide clumps that are getting too big and move plants in the wrong place. You may decide to move immediately or put into pots to overwinter ready to plant out again in the spring. If you plan to dig up a plant to divide it, and want to return it to the same place, do remember to dig in plenty of compost to refresh the soil.
As always if your plans seem too big for your time, give Chopwell a call, our friendly professional team are here to help, to take the effort from your garden so you can enjoy your outside space.
