Top tips for preparing your garden for autumn

With a new season comes new garden prep and decoration ideas, especially in Autumn as Halloween season approaches, and you want to decorate your front or back garden.

If you want to prep your plants for the winter or turn your garden into a Halloween shrine (after all, your garden needs to be in great shape before you start adding spooky ornaments), then we’ve got just the guide for you.

Luckily, these steps shouldn’t take you too long, allowing you to enjoy the fresh air or grow your own plants and vegetables as the season starts to change. Soon, you’ll be able to enjoy the view of pretty, fallen orange leaves without a bunch of weeds in the way.

At Atlas Sheds, we know how important it is to own a garden that meets all of your needs. That’s why we sell a range of beautiful, sturdy, and affordable garden sheds, so you can grow potted plants, store your garden tools, or keep garden furniture rust-free during the winter.

Quick checklist

When it comes to keeping your garden in check this autumn, you really want to make sure you’re doing the following main things:

Keep mowing if temps stay above ~10°C and raise the cut height slightly.
Rake leaves from lawns and paths and turn them into leaf mould for mulch.
Plant spring bulbs now and firm them into well-drained spots to prepare for spring.
Split overgrown perennials.
Mulch bare soil to trap in moisture and protect roots.
Add a net over ponds, clear away any floating debris, and check pumps.
Inspect sheds and store away garden furniture.

We’ll get more into each one now, so you don’t end up neglecting your garden throughout autumn and leaving yourself with a big job come springtime.

Lawn care

Think of your grass as the part of your garden that sets the scene for everything else.

If the grass is overgrown, there are weeds everywhere, and your plants are wilting and dying, then no amount of garden gnomes or fairy lights are going to make it a pretty sight.

While grass tends to grow more slowly throughout autumn and winter, it sadly doesn’t stop entirely. Plus, with increased rainfall, your garden will likely get waterlogged, so it’s best to mow when the lawn is dry and frost-free.

Here’s a little checklist you can follow to tidy up the base of your garden:

Clear away leaves: We suggest raking any leaves away before mowing and bagging them to create an autumnal leaf pile later on or scattering them around trees as a cute decoration idea. Or, you can use them as leaf mould to feed to your new plants.
De-weed your garden: Weeds can be a nuisance, and leaving them till spring will give you an even bigger garden job to tackle at once. Staying on top of them will have you thanking yourself later. Simply get between cracks in the pavement or around the edge of your garden and remove them from the root.
Overseed thin patches while the soil’s still warm: Early to mid-autumn is the perfect time to thicken a tired lawn. Choose a day when it hasn’t rained and mow the lawn a little shorter. Then, collect the clippings, rake the surface to pull out thatch and open the soil, and spike compacted areas with a fork so you can scatter lawn seed. Rake until the seeds are covered and apply a thin layer of compost on top.
Feed your lawn: If your lawn is starting to turn yellow after mowing, use an autumn lawn feed that is lower in nitrogen and higher in potassium to support resilience through cold, wet weather. It’s best to apply it on a dry day!

2. Borders and perennials: tidy, split, and mulch

If you’re someone who loves to fill your garden with lots of colour, including pretty flower borders and bright plants, then you’ll need to maintain the same level of care throughout autumn.

While outdoor plants can look after themselves for the most part, many need a bit of help during the colder, darker months.

Assess and cut: Your best bet is to start by cutting away any plants that are too soggy or are overcrowding garden paths. Leave sturdy seed heads on plants like rudbeckia, echinacea, and sedum to add a little bit of visual appeal during winter. Anything with rust, mildew or blackened leaves goes straight in the bin.
Dig up annual flowers: It’s time to get rid of those pretty, vibrant annual plants that looked so good during spring and summer. Sadly, these can’t sustain themselves during autumn and winter, so it’s best to let them go now.
Split and replant perennials: Perennials that have formed crowded clumps are ready to be split. Water the plant lightly the day before to ease stress, then lift the clump with a fork, keeping as much root as you can. Split them into sections and replant divisions at the same depth as before in refreshed soil, spacing them out.
Mulch your soil: Spread 5–7 cm of organic matter, such as compost, well-rotted manure, leaf mould or fine bark, on your soil and around perennials to improve water retention and suppress weeds. Don’t add mulch around stems or crowns, as this can cause rot.

3. Bulbs and planting now for spring

Now is the best time to start planting any new flowers and plants, ready for springtime. You could choose to plant spring bulbs directly into the soil or place them in small plant pots for a pretty display.

Here are the best types of plants to start growing based on the month:

September through October

Start with daffodils, crocus, alliums, and grape hyacinths while the soil is still warm, early to mid-September.

Perennials, such as Asters (Michaelmas daisy), hellebores, daylilies (Hemerocallis), and container-grown shrubs like choisya, holly, and Skimmia, are also great choices.

October through November

Hold tulips back until late October or November, when it’s cooler, to reduce the risk of them rotting and wilting before spring.

If the ground isn’t too waterlogged, you could also plant some daffodils and alliums during this time. However, now is the prime time to plant roses, fruit trees (apple, pear, and plum), fruit bushes (currant and gooseberry) and ornamental trees like rowan and silver birch.

Top tips

Try “lasagne” planting: a layer of late tulips at the bottom, mid-season daffodils in the middle, and crocus or muscari near the top for an interesting display.
Squirrels love to dig up freshly planted bulbs, so water the area to remove the scent of fresh soil and lay a sheet of wire mesh over the patch for a couple of weeks.
To prevent them from becoming soft or mouldy, keep extra bulbs and pot feet in a dry, well-ventilated shed.
Once shoots appear in late winter, keep the soil evenly moist during dry spells to keep your new plants healthy.

Does your current shed have a lot of damp spots from leaks? Upgrading to a well-built, tanalised shed in time for winter will keep tools, compost, and bulbs in good nick during the rainy season.

4. Veg beds and compost

If you’re someone with your own veg patch and you love to grow herbs, vegetables, or fruit, then now is the perfect time to lift the last of your summer crops and separate healthy leftovers from anything marked by blight, rust, or mildew.

You should have already mulched the soil by now, but if not, go ahead and mulch it while de-weeding your veg patch. Cut any plants like tomatoes or beans at the base where roots can feed soil life through autumn and winter.

Once the beds are tidy, add 3–5 cm of compost, well-rotted manure, or leaf mould and work a handful of sharp sand or fine grit into planting holes for drainage. Field beans are perfect for planting in October to November, while Winter rye is the go-to for patchy areas.

Sow broad beans such as ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ now for an early crop. Plant individual cloves 15 cm apart, rows 25–30 cm apart, and 5–7 cm deep, then follow with autumn onions and shallots, planting them 10cm apart and so that only the tip is showing through the soil.

Top tip: Do you want to get creative for the spooky season? Why not plant and grow some of your own pumpkins, perfect for creating pumpkin pie? Or, you could add some decorations to your veg patch, such as mini ghost figurines or some scary skeletons, to embrace the festivity.

5. Water, ponds, and paths

It can be hard work to keep on top of any water features in your garden, such as ponds and water fountains. Especially so during the colder seasons.

However, planning ahead will mean that you don’t have to go out in the cold to clear out your pond all the time.

Water and ponds

One of the best things you can do for your garden is to cover your pond or water fountain with a net or protective sheet. This way, you won’t have to worry about clearing out leaves and fallen debris, which will pollute the water.

It’s also a good idea to trim plants around the edges and remove excess blanket weed, so they don’t overgrow and wilt in. If your pond has any fish, switch to a cold-weather/wheat-germ feed as water dips below ~15–16 °C and reduce portions as it nears 10 °C.

Gutters and downpipes

Many people forget about gutters and downpipes when it comes to preparing their garden for autumn and maintaining it through the colder months.

With autumn comes a lot of fallen debris and leaves, so make a habit of clearing out anything trapped in your gutters and downpipes so as not to cause any leaks or blockages. Installing a basic filter or diverter will help to capture and filter out coarse debris, giving you less work to do.

Pathways and patios

Algae and moss are a nightmare for garden paths when autumn and winter come around. However, there’s a really simple fix: brush your patio pavement with a stiff brush to remove any stubborn grime, use a scraper to remove dirt from joints, then rinse with a jet wash.

If any spots still won’t budge, you can find a range of chemical cleaners online. Since pathways will be slippier, it’s a good idea to lay down any anti-slip mats if you live with small children or older family members.

6. Cover and protect any garden furniture

Do we need to explain this one?

Covering up any garden furniture will be a lifesaver during autumn and winter, especially if you have any metal tables or chairs. Placing a waterproof plastic sheet over them will prevent them from rusting and becoming discoloured, so once summer comes back around, they’ll be right as rain.

Before covering them up or storing them away, we recommend giving them a clean and rinse to remove any grime or fallen leaves. Purchase breathable sheets so they don’t mould underneath and keep them fully sealed with ties or ribbons.

If you have rattan furniture with pillow covers, remove and wash the covers, then dry them and store them indoors, whether that be in a shed or garage.

7. Autumn maintenance and weatherproofing your shed

If you don’t already own a potting or storage shed, then you’re missing out! A potting shed is ideal for potted plants that can’t handle the colder weather, as you can bring them indoors and keep them alive until spring comes back around.

Without a storage shed, you won’t have anywhere safe and easy to access to store any gardening tools, furniture, and small vehicles like bikes.

However, a garden shed comes with a whole new set of responsibilities; after all, you don’t want to have to deal with leaks, pests, and mould issues. Luckily for you, we’ve broken down a to-do list so you can keep on top of your shed throughout autumn and winter:

Inspect the roof felt for any signs of holes, blisters, or lifted edges and repair or replace if necessary.
Brush off debris from the timber, let the cladding dry, and apply a quality wood preserver to guard against rot and blue stain.
Check if the base is still intact and trim back plants to prevent any pests or moisture from creeping in.
Add air vents to improve airflow in the shed so moisture doesn’t build up and cause any mildew issues.
Check all of the windows and doors and re-seal any beading or weatherstripping if necessary.

Is your shed too far gone to save? You can browse a range of long-lasting timber sheds today, made from tanalised or dip-treated timber, all sourced responsibly from sustainably managed rainforests.

The best part? We have over 12 types of sheds for you to browse, ranging from small bike sheds to large garden rooms.