Autumn
Don’t be too tidy… Enjoy the slow Autumnal drift into winter.
As the days grow shorter and the leaves begin to turn there is a temptation to tidy the garden, to cut back all the fading perennials, prune, cut, chop and sweep - but try to resist!
Yes rake the leaves from the lawn and use to make leaf mould, that most fabulous of substances that for some reason you can only get if you make it yourself.
Yes keep paths clear to avoid them becoming slimy and slippy…
But generally sit back, let nature take its course and allow the garden to decline gracefully.
Take the time to become aware of and appreciate the beauty of autumn; the amazing colours as the trees re-absorb the green chlorophyll and the leaves gradually reveal their rich underlying colours of reds, yellows and orange.
As well as the intricate and delicate seed heads of grasses, alliums, herbs and perennials.
The rich colours of autumn berries like Rowen, Vibernum, Crab apple and of course the fat oranges and reds of rose hips that you will only get if you resist the urge to dead head every rose in your garden.
Enjoy the luminosity of the grasses that continue to shine throughout autumn as the sun grows lower in the sky and the light becomes softer and richer.
Whilst you take a step back and begin to acknowledge and enjoy the subtle beauty of autumn your garden is doing all the work of preparing itself for winter for you.
As the leaves and perennials die back and cover the soil they are creating a lovely warm blanket that will protect next years emerging shoots from any cold winter frosts.
The worms will begin to pull this rich layer of organic matter into the soil which will feed the fungal mycelium and soil micro-organisms improving and enriching the soil ready for next seasons growth.
The standing hollow stems of the fading perennials become the perfect cosy home for overwintering insects.
The beautiful rich coloured fruits and the seeds from grasses, perennials and herbs will feed the garden birds for the coming weeks and months and when the cold winter days finally arrive the architectural beauty of the vestigial plant structures will be revealed in crisp sharp frosted detail.
Enjoy this special season… save the tidying for the spring!