Getting Your Garden Ready for Autumn in South Wales
It’s the end of August, and you can already feel that little nip in the air here in South Wales. I always think this is one of the loveliest times of year in the garden — there’s still plenty of colour, but even the swallows can sense the change coming. A bit of preparation now will keep everything looking good through autumn and set you up beautifully for spring.
Here are a few things I’ll be busy with over the next few weeks for my own garden (and for many of my lovely clients across Mid Glamorgan too):
A Little Autumn Pruning
Now’s the time to tidy up shrubs and cut back perennials that have finished for the season. It keeps everything looking neat and helps plants stay healthy. I’ll often give herbs like rosemary and sage a light trim too — it encourages them to bush out nicely next year.
Splitting Perennials for More Plants
If you’ve got big clumps of perennials like asters, hardy geraniums or Japanese anenomes, autumn is a brilliant time to lift and split them. It freshens up the plant and gives you extras to dot around your borders (or share with friends). I really enjoy this job — it feels like free plants!
Autumn Planting
Planting in autumn is one of my favourite tasks. The soil is still warm but the weather is cooler, which means shrubs, herbs, and hardy perennials get the best chance to put their roots down. In the kitchen garden, I’ll be popping in garlic and onions now, along with a few greens that’ll carry through the colder months. Maybe even some winter salads.
Mulching for Healthy Soil
A good mulch makes such a difference. I use compost, leaf mould, or well-rotted manure to give the soil a boost, protect roots from frost, and lock in moisture. Borders, herbs, and shrubs all benefit — and it makes everything look instantly smarter too.
A Big Weed Clear-Out
Autumn is the perfect moment to tackle weeds before they spread their seeds everywhere. A good clear through the borders now saves a mountain of work come spring.
Kitchen Gardens & Greenhouses
If you’ve got a greenhouse or a kitchen garden, autumn is all about the tidy-up. I’ll clear away old crops, refresh pots and soil, and make space for anything I want to overwinter like my lemon trees and lemon verbena. Herbs can be trimmed and dried or frozen for the kitchen, so you’ll still be using your garden produce through winter.
Need a Hand?
I know this time of year can feel like a lot to stay on top of, but it makes such a difference for the months ahead. If you’d like a bit of help with your autumn garden — whether it’s pruning, mulching, splitting, planting, or just giving your borders a good weed — please give me a call and we can have a chat.
I’m based in the Mid Glamorgan area, and I work with everything from shrubs and borders to herbs, kitchen gardens, and greenhouses. Just get in touch if you’d like me to take some of these autumn jobs off your list.
Happy gardening,
Holly x
