Gardening really is an all-year-round activity
Autumn
Autumn is that time of year when the warm summer temperatures fall and the nights start to draw in. It’s a cosy time for curling up on the sofa with a hot brew but that doesn’t mean gardening has to stop. The leaves will start to fall but some plants, such as Anemones and Verbena will still be in bloom until the first frost hits. It is also a good time to reflect on your garden from the summer and to start thinking and planning about ways to improve it for next year. The work to get the perfect garden starts now.
Autumn Jobs
- Rake and clear fallen leaves from your lawn, decking, and paths
- Clean and put away any garden furniture
- Clear any overgrown areas
- Plant bulbs for spring – daffodils and tulips are a favourite of ours
- Plant deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbing plants
- Take hardwood cuttings from roses and shrubs such as willow and forsythia
Winter
During the cold, dark months of winter it is easy to forget about your outside space. Most – but not all – of your garden is dormant and you won’t need to mow your lawn for a while. However, there are still a lot of maintenance jobs to do which will set you up nicely for spring. Being willing to brave the cold, get your hands (or gardening gloves) dirty and put in the graft during the winter weekends will pay tremendous dividends for your garden’s appearance come next year.
Winter Jobs
- Clean your greenhouse and tidy your garden shed
- Take any unwanted items or rubbish that has gathered to the tip
- Plant hedges, trees, and other bare-root plants
- Install pot feet to any terracotta pots to prevent cracking during frost
- Fix and fences or patio areas that could be damaged during the harsh winter weather
- Install sleepers to create dedicated flower beds
- Order seeds and plan for the next year
Spring
Spring can arrive quicker than you think but there are years when it feels like it takes forever. Either way, spring and its warmer weather will arrive at some point and your garden will jump back into life again after the winter months. The first signs of spring may be your daffodils and tulips emerging from the bulbs you planted months prior. This can happen as early as January if it is a particularly mild winter. Some people think that spring signals the start of the outdoor season, but if you’ve followed our advice above, you will be months ahead of them! Tasks that you can crack on with during the springtime are listed below.
Spring Jobs
- Sow seeds of annual flowers
- Planning the look and layout of borders
- Clean your patio and decking areas
- Give your lawn its first mow followed by a lawn care treatment
- Use a scarifier on your lawn and reseed and bare patches
- Plant new herbaceous plants and shrubs
- Prune and roses to allow for growth during the months ahead
- Sow vegetables and sweet peas in a propagator to keep on your windowsill
- Remove any early signs of weeds and add mulch to your borders
Summer
The summertime is the peak season for your garden where everything will burst into life. It’s a beautiful and fulfilling time where everything grows and blooms, allowing you to see the fruits of your labour. You will no doubt want to host garden parties and have relaxing BBQs in the sunshine to enjoy the garden you’ve worked so garden to create. Making sure you’ve done the work in previous months is crucial here so you can cherish the warmer months without rushing. The fast growth of plants means your garden will need maintenance on a weekly basis if you want to avoid having an overgrown jungle. In some cases, we mow lawns twice a week for customers across Dorset during the height of summer.
Summer Jobs
- Mow your lawn regularly, increase the height when it’s particularly dry
- Water your plants, flowers and lawn during those dry spells we get in Dorset
- Weed your borders at least once a week
- Sow perennial plant seeds
- Plant out anything you’ve been growing indoors e.g. vegetables
- Stake perennials to give them support for outdoor growth e.g. sweet peas
- Prune spring-flowering shrubs and hedges
- Feed and deadhead roses after they have flowered
- Get the BBQ on
- Enjoy a Gin & Tonic in the garden
As you can see, having the perfect garden requires year-round maintenance, not just a series of work packed in as soon as the weather warms up. Tending to your garden is a healthy, enjoyable and productive activity, but it can also be hard work, especially when it’s cold and wet.
At Benefitz Gardening Services, we are Dorset-based landscape gardeners. We offer all forms of gardening services 12-months a year and we cover all properties with a BH Bournemouth postcode. You may have a big project you want to schedule in for the autumn or winter – this can include installing new fencing or decking, creating a patio, felling a large tree, or installing large sleepers – whatever it is, we can help.
Whether you are in Poole, Bournemouth, or Christchurch, we want to help you make the perfect Dorset garden to enjoy all year round.