As the gardening year starts to draw to an end, the amount of work to be done outdoors gradually decreases. So far this month my gardening time has been spent clearing up and putting away, rather than looking ahead to next year’s flowers and harvest. But it’s not all about putting things to bed for the winter this month, there is still some planting to be done in November if you feel like a more uplifting task in your garden. Here are some ...
What to plant now – October
Autumn is really underway now. Leaves are falling everywhere you look, and I’m a little obsessed with the pumpkins we’re about to harvest for Halloween. October isn’t all about harvesting and hunkering down for the colder months though, there are still some crops and plants you can grow. Here are some ideas for what to plant this month. Asparagus Some varieties of asparagus can be planted in autumn; planting now helps them to get ...
9. The 10 minute gardener: quick gardening jobs for early Autumn
Welcome to the latest post in this series, looking at quick gardening jobs you can fit into a busy schedule. Now that autumn has arrived things feel like they’re slowing down in the garden; plants are starting to shut down, lots of crops are coming to an end, and leaves are starting to fall. This doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do this month though, there are lots of quick jobs you can make a start on to prepare your garden for ...
Nature Craft: making leaf prints
Isn't autumn just wonderful for crafting inspiration? We've done so many lovely craft activities already this season, and these simple leaf prints are our latest masterpiece. With so many fabulous leaves lying around, we thought we'd get the paints out and put them to good use. First job was to head out for a walk in the park to find some leaves in varying shapes and sizes. After a good debate about which leaves were our favourites, ...
What to plant now – September
Well here we are - autumn. Summer is such a busy time - with a young family off school, but also in the garden - and September always seems to arrive so quickly. It’s a lovely month though; harvest time, beautiful angles of sunshine, and still plenty of warm weather to enjoy. And it’s also quite a productive month for sowing seeds, planting bulbs and growing new plants - some to enjoy soon, and some to get started for next year. ...
10. The 10 minute gardener: late Autumn gardening jobs
Welcome to the latest 10 minute gardener, looking at quick autumn gardening jobs you can fit into a busy schedule. We’re heading towards the quietest time on the gardening calendar, when light is limited, most plants are dormant and the weather isn’t exactly tempting us outside. We’re not quite there yet though; there are still some garden jobs that you can do now to help protect your garden over winter and bring it to life ...
Perfect autumn garden projects
My garden is definitely looking very much like an autumn garden now; the leaves are starting to fall, the apple tree is weighed down with fruit, and most of the plants are dying back after a summer of flowering. Things are gradually slowing down, and that change of pace brings with it opportunity. With relatively mild weather and less garden maintenance required, autumn is a brilliant time of year to tackle new projects in the garden. Here are ...
Five ways to brighten up your home for Autumn
Today's guest post explores easy ways to embrace autumn in your home. Enjoy! Autumn is one of the most amazing seasons of the year, and the perfect time to spruce up your home. With the nights drawing in earlier and it getting much colder outside, making your home a cosy sanctuary away from the cold weather is essential. There are so many things you can do to brighten up your home, here are a few to get you feeling inspired. Pile on the ...
Birth Flowers: November – chrysanthemums
Welcome to the latest post in the birth flowers series, looking at the flowers assigned to each month of the year. This time we’re looking at the birth flowers for November and their meanings. For some history on the origins of birth month flowers, take a look at my first post in the series. One of the most widely grown flowers in the world, chrysanthemums or ‘mums’ are members of the daisy family. Chrysanthemums originate from Asia ...
A guide to dealing with home & garden pests
With the colder months underway you might be thinking home and garden pests aren't something you need to worry about, but that's actually not the case. It's a good idea to be mindful of household pests all year round, so you can deal with any problems as soon as they arise rather than be faced with a tricky infestation. This infographic from Primrose gives lots of tips and ideas for dealing with unwelcome household pests, including where to ...