The Perennial team are shifting gear for Autumn and looking forward to the next season. We hope that you are still harvesting the veg that was planted in the spring lockdown and trying out the many ways of preserving your gluts.
The Autumn Equinox has arrived. But it’s not the end of good weather – here in Pembrokeshire, October can remain mild and sunny – it’s the perfect time to spend quality time in the garden preparing for next year.
October is the perfect month for ‘investment’ in your garden and yourself; looking back on what was best in the garden and what you would like to change, planning ahead for The Garden 2021. Here are a few jobs to prioritise this month if you want a flying start next year, before the weather drives you indoors to browse seed catalogues and lush images in all of those glossy gardening books.
We suggest four positive things you can do to ensure your garden gets off to a good start in 2021:
- Split up spring-flowering perennials: Hardy Geraniums, Achillias, Campanulas and the like can be split, to make more healthy, vigorous plants that will perform year after year. ….and to fill up your borders for nothing. It’s best done on a dry day when the soil is not too wet. Plant some of the newly divided plants back in the ground, improving the soil with a little compost and bonemeal if you have it. Other pieces can be potted up to give away to friends!
- Plant perennials and shrubs: The soil is warm, there is less leaf growth, so plants put energy into growing roots, helped by autumn rains.
- Plant garlic: Garlic is best planted in autumn. Plant it in your vegetable patch with the pointed ends up, just below the soil surface and spaced 10cm apart. Companion garden gurus suggest planting garlic with raspberries!
- Plant spring-flowering bulbs: this will ensure a colourful display when spring arrives. Gardener’s Question Time episode 25 on BBC Sounds contains a great ‘beginners guide’. Plant pots with bulbs, grasses, cyclamen and violas for a colourful display, with lots of texture. The rule of thumb is to plant bulbs at a depth equal to twice the height of the bulb.
The Perennial Garden remains open in October and the gardeners are happy to give you advice and point you towards good plants for your Pembrokeshire garden.
