Jobs around the garden for Autumn time

Autumn colour is the precursor to leaf fall and the annual clean up of fallen debris in the garden.

DO resist the urge to collect fallen leaves from flower and shrub beds as they will improve the soil by breaking down into valuable humus and protect delicate roots and growing tips from the harshest of the winter weather.

However, lawns and garden paths are a different matter. Here, fallen leaves will cut out light to the grass beneath and damage the lawn while creating slip hazards on paths and driveways — so they need to be removed.

Don’t throw them out, instead, fill some hessian bags with this garden waste and allow the contents to break down over twelve months for the best soil additive you can get, better than any shop-bought or peat-based product.

Add some pine needles into the mix and you will have a ready made soil acidifier with which to mulch your Camellias, Rhododendrons, Azaleas and other ericaceous specimens ensuring rich green leaves next year.