Top Gardening Jobs for Autumn UK

Autumn is here, and you might be wondering, "What are the best gardening jobs for autumn in the UK?" As the leaves start to turn and temperatures begin to drop, it's the perfect time to give your garden a bit of extra love before winter sets in. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, this guide will walk you through the essential gardening tasks for autumn.

From planting bulbs to tidying borders, we'll make sure your garden is in top shape for the colder months. Let's dig in, shall we?

As summer fades, you’ll notice a lot of spent plants. These plants have given their best throughout the warmer months, and now it’s time to clear them out.

• Remove old annuals and compost them.
• Cut down fruited stems of raspberries and blackberries to ground level.
• Pull up vegetables like courgettes and beans that have finished producing.

Clearing these plants not only keeps your garden tidy but also helps reduce the chance of pests overwintering. Composting these plants is an excellent way to recycle nutrients back into your garden.

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Planting spring bulbs is one of my favourite autumn gardening jobs. Imagine those first daffodils and tulips appearing in spring—it’s all about the preparation now!

• Best bulbs to plant: Daffodils, tulips, crocus, and hyacinths are great choices.
• Planting depth and spacing: Follow the packaging for guidelines, but as a rule, plant bulbs at a depth roughly three times their height.
• Beds or Pots? Bulbs can be planted in both beds or pots—whichever suits your garden best.

Prepare for next years growing season with one of our potting sheds.

Lawn care in autumn is all about making sure your lawn is ready for the winter months. Here’s what to focus on:

• Rake fallen leaves: Leaves left on the lawn can lead to disease and damage. Rake them up regularly.
• Aerate the lawn: Use a garden fork to spike the lawn and improve drainage.
• Fertilize: Use an autumn lawn feed rich in potassium to strengthen the grass for winter.
• Repair patches: Autumn is an ideal time to repair bare patches in your lawn.

Taking care of your lawn now will mean a lush, healthy lawn come spring.

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Pruning is a key part of autumn gardening. Pruning shrubs and trees keeps them healthy and encourages better growth next year.

• Fruit trees: Prune apple and pear trees to remove dead or diseased wood.
• Roses: Cut back roses to prevent wind damage and promote healthy growth in spring.
• Hedges: Trim hedges to keep them neat and in shape.

Pruning is all about timing, and doing it right in autumn means stronger, healthier plants in the following growing season.

As the growing season slows, it's time to prepare your garden beds for the colder months.

• Clear spent crops: Remove old vegetable plants and compost them.
• Add compost: Improve soil health by adding a layer of compost or well-rotted manure.
• Cover beds: Mulch bare soil to protect it from erosion and improve fertility.

Leaving beds exposed to the winter elements isn’t great for soil health. A good mulch helps protect the soil and maintain its structure.

Mulching is a fantastic way to keep your flower borders healthy during the colder months. Apply a thick layer of organic matter around your plants.

• Why mulch? Mulch helps insulate roots, suppress weeds, and maintain soil moisture.
• What to use: Compost, well-rotted manure, or bark chippings work well.

Mulching in autumn means your plants are better prepared to cope with winter, and your garden will thank you for it in spring.

Autumn is the perfect time to plant bulbs for spring blooms.

• Choose the right spot: Bulbs need well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight.
• Plant deeply: Bulbs should be planted at about three times their depth for best results.
• Protect from frost: Covering bulb beds with mulch helps protect them from harsh winter frosts.

Spring flowers like daffodils and tulips bring the first bit of colour to your garden after winter, and they need to be planted now to make that magic happen.

As the weather cools, our garden wildlife needs a little extra help. Autumn is a great time to make your garden more wildlife-friendly.

• Clean out nest boxes: Birds will appreciate a clean space to shelter.
• Leave some leaves: While clearing leaves from the lawn is essential, leaving a pile in a corner provides a home for hedgehogs.
• Add a bird feeder: Winter is tough for birds, and a feeder stocked with seeds and suet will be much appreciated.

Creating a space for wildlife is a great way to keep your garden vibrant and full of life through the winter.

Tender plants need extra protection from the cold as temperatures drop.

• Bring indoors: Plants in pots, like pelargoniums, should be brought inside or placed in a greenhouse.
• Wrap in fleece: Wrap tender shrubs in horticultural fleece to protect them from frost.
• Mulch: Mulching around the base of plants helps insulate their roots.

Learn what to grow in your greenhouse next season with our handy greenhouse gardening beginner's guide.

Autumn is harvest time for many vegetables. Be sure to pick and store your crops correctly.

• Root vegetables: Carrots, parsnips, and beetroots can be lifted and stored in a cool, dry place.
• Brassicas: Harvest kale, cabbage, and broccoli as needed throughout autumn.
• Pumpkins and Squash: Harvest before the first frost and store in a cool, dark place for winter use.

Getting your harvest in now means you can enjoy your homegrown produce well into the winter months.

Autumn is an ideal time to divide perennials. Dividing them now encourages healthy growth and better flowering next year.

• Why divide? Dividing perennials rejuvenates plants, promotes better blooms, and helps control their size.
• How to do it: Dig up the plant, split it into smaller sections, and replant immediately.
• Which plants? Hostas, asters, and daylilies are great candidates for autumn division.

Dividing perennials is also a fantastic way to expand your garden without spending a penny!

Tidying borders in autumn helps prepare the garden for the winter months and makes spring a little easier.

• Cut back herbs: Cut back herbs like rosemary and thyme to promote fresh growth next year.
• Remove weeds: Clearing weeds now means fewer problems in spring.
• Edge borders: Re-edge your borders to keep them neat and defined.

A tidy border means your garden will look neat through the winter, and you’ll have less to do when spring arrives.

Autumn is composting season. With so much garden waste, it’s the perfect time to start or add to your compost heap.

• What to add: Fallen leaves, spent plants, and grass clippings are great additions.
• Balance is key: Make sure you have a good mix of green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) materials.
• Turn the pile: Turning your compost regularly adds oxygen, helping it break down faster.

Composting is one of the best things you can do for your garden. It’s free, sustainable, and helps improve your soil quality.

Sweet peas are one of the best flowers for sowing in autumn for an early display next year.

• Deep pots: Sow sweet peas in deep pots to allow for long root growth.
• Keep in greenhouse: Keep them in an insulated greenhouse to protect from frost.
• Pinch out tips: Once they’ve got a few pairs of leaves, pinch out the tips to encourage bushier growth.

Autumn is an ideal time to plant evergreen shrubs. They provide year-round structure and interest.

• Why plant now? Planting in autumn gives evergreens time to establish before winter.
• Good choices: Consider Christmas box (Sarcococca hookeriana), Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’, or a Tibetan cherry tree for lovely winter colour and fragrance.
• Plant properly: Make sure the planting hole is well-prepared with compost to help the shrub establish.

Evergreens bring much-needed life to a winter garden, providing colour when most other plants have died back.

Autumn is the perfect time to give your greenhouse and potting shed a good clean. This helps prevent pests and diseases from overwintering.