Your Village Oct/Nov 19

Hordle Gardening Club – Autumn
It’s the time of year when we gardeners (yes,
that’s all of us) should be planning for next year.
If nothing else, gardening teaches us patience,
and that thinking ahead and planning will all
help.
What changes – if any – are you going to make
to your garden before next year? Did you take
pictures through the summer, or make notes?
Often I’ve thought “I must move that in the
autumn” and then promptly forgot! The
following year arrives, the plant in question
comes into leaf and it’s just too late to move it.
Autumn is considered the best time to plant as
the ground is still warm which gives roots a
chance to settle in before winter cold – and will
hopefully mean you won’t have to water next
year. Planting in the spring may mean the plant
has not had long enough to grow a decent root
system before summer arrives, so summer
watering is likely to be necessary.
Autumn jobs:-
1. Rake up leaves as they fall and create your
own leaf mould by placing in a square frame
made of chicken wire and leave over the
winter – great for the garden next year. If
you’re short of space, fill bin bags with the
leaves, add a little water, tie the tops, make a
few holes with a garden fork and leave in a
corner somewhere until next year.
Alternatively remove to the tip and let them
compost it.
2. Move those plants you noted to move earlier
in the year.
3. Plan your pots. Colour schemes or not – it’s
good to start thinking and planning now
during our darker evenings, rather than
haphazard buying next year when you’ll buy
more than you need! (I speak from
experience.)
4. Buy spring flowering bulbs NOW. But delay
planting tulips until November after a cold
snap, keep them cool and dry until then. Only
a few tulips are truly perennial (come back
each year) because most are now bred for just
a ‘one season’ show. Any that do reappear are
likely to be smaller. Having said that, do your
research, and look for perennial tulips – there
are a few. Other bulbs can be planted as soon
as possible.
5. Mulch, mulch and more mulch! Once you’ve
cleared your leaves and planted your plants,
now’s the time to mulch – or ‘top dress’ your
beds. I like a composted soil improver like
‘Ecomix’ or similar, it’s dark and heavy and
makes the beds look lovely. Add 4 inches
(10cm) – don’t skimp! The worms will do their
job over the winter by taking the goodness
down into the soil. This will get repeated in
the spring (I will remind you). Soil structure,
water retention and therefore growth will be
improved. If you have access to horse or cow
manure, be aware it should be well rotted
(fresh may ‘burn’ your plants) and you WILL
get seeds germinating from it in the spring, ie
everything the animals had been eating so be
prepared to do regular ‘seedling pulling’.
And if you only do one of the above, it has to be
mulching. Season by season your soil will go a
darker colour and its fertility will improve. Right
I’m off… back to my bulb and seed catalogues!
Hordle
Gardening
Club
Do you:
• have an interest in plants and gardens?
• like growing plants - fruit - vegetables?
• want to learn more?
• want to meet new people and have a
sociable evening out?
Do come along to one of our meetings
and see if you’d like to join us. We have
talks on a variety of subjects and social
events too.
We meet at 7pm at the Hordle Pavilion
on the 4th Friday of each month (except
August & December).
Guest fee £3. Annual membership £7
email: hordlegardeningclub@outlook.com
www.hordlegardeningclub.co.uk
or call Kate Cornhill on 01425 621305
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