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While many people wait for the warmer weather of spring time to get a green thumb, late autumn and early winter is also an important time when looking after your garden and lawn.
Autumn is a great time to get mulching or start a compost bin. With all the leaves falling from the trees, along with vegetable patches dying off, the green matter is perfect to for your compost in time to add to your soil come planting time.
Raice Nicholls from Lop, Chop and Chip said it was important to clear any dead, green waste, especially around the Bay Islands where there can be high amounts of green matter with homes surrounded by dense greenery. “The debris can quickly become a fire hazard with so much ground fuel around, and it can also attract mice and other vermin,” he said.
While the leaves are falling it also provides a good opportunity to get in and prune back any out of control bushes and shrubs or dead branches. “While the trees are bare it allows you a better view to trim back your smaller trees and shrubs,” he said.
If you are hesitant to do too much gardening in autumn and winter, the other option is to plan changes you want to make to your home. The time can be used to remove any unwanted trees, create a water feature or build a vegetable patch.
It's not storm season and with less rain, you need to take care of your garden and property more.
- Raice Nicholls, Lop, Chop and Chip
People can be hesitant to plant anything due to colder weather, but there are many plants that thrive in these conditions. Fruit trees will propser, while planting bulbs can be a quick and simple way to add colour to your garden, with many different colours and sizes available.
Autumn is the perfect time to plant bulbs as it gives them enough time to grow over the coming months before they bloom in spring. While bulbs are easy to grow and care for, they do require plenty of sunlight to flourish.
Many people also tend to forget about their lawn at this time of year. There is a lower rainfall over the winter months than people assume and your lawn can die off quite badly with the lack of water. It’s important to water and fertilise your lawn around this time of year to ensure that it’s stays healthy and green throughout the colder months.