How to make your garden fit for winter in autumn - 6 to-dos

It's getting cold soon: what to do in the garden in the fall

When asked what to do in the garden in the fall, these three gardener to-dos are usually mentioned: Do fall pruning, protect plants from frost, and plant what will beautify the garden in the spring. But this time of year offers so many more opportunities to get creative. We give you tips on how to make your green home fit for winter and how your garden becomes a charming eye-catcher in autumn.

The most important things in advance:

• - For garden owners, now is the best time to take care of autumn pruning and spring planting
• - Even before the night frosts begin, diseased, damaged and dead branches should be removed - this will promote the growth of plants and give them extra strength for new shoots
• - Not all plants can overwinter outside - potted plants, for example, should be brought indoors or to their winter quarters in the fall

Important autumn chores in the garden

The first leaves are changing color, there is a scent of wet leaves and in the evening it is getting fresher: visible signs that autumn is moving into your garden. This is the right time to take important precautions to ensure that your greenery will continue to delight you next year.

It starts, for example, with autumn pruning: free bushes, trees and shrubs from dead branches before the night frosts come. This will encourage growth and budding in the spring. Also, give your hedge a bold pruning. This will ensure that your plants grow back more vigorously in the spring.

Please note: There are frameworks for when hedge pruning is allowed. Here you will find some more information on this. Of course, depending on the type, equipment and vegetation of the garden - there is much more to do in the fall for hardworking amateur gardeners.

The 6 most important October to-dos for your garden and balcony plants:

1. Relocate plants. Those who want to relocate plants should do so at the beginning of autumn. Absolutely note: dig generously, leave roots intact and water well after planting.
2. Store summer flowers. The situation: for example, you have begonias, dahlias, gladioli in the garden or on your balcony in window boxes. These beauties do not like frost. So with them it is called: dig up bulbs and store them well protected in the basement in a box.
3. Mulching. Spread around your hardy plants mulch substrate. This will also protect them from the coming colder temperatures.
4. Store garden pumps. If you have a garden pond or fountain, their pumps, filters and connections could freeze. Therefore, it is advisable to remove pumps and filters from the water, clean them thoroughly and store them in the basement frost-proof. In the case of the pump, it is important to soak it in water so that the seals do not become brittle. So you can look forward to their renewed reliable use in the spring.
5. Prepare the water taps. The water supply itself must also be prepared: Close the shut-off valve of the water supply, drain the remaining water, drain the line using the drain valve and keep the shut-off valve closed from autumn.
6. Collect seeds. This is not an absolute must, but still useful: the seeds of summer flowers are excellent bird food. However, you should only consider this use if you have a suitable feeding station ready, which is easy to keep clean and preferably protected from rats and mice.

So to get your garden well through the colder season, you can do quite a bit. Now take a look at our list of frequently asked questions if you want to learn more about topics such as autumn plants, lawn fertilization, cold protection for plants or decoration. We have compiled the most important info for you in a handy FAQ.

What to cut in the garden in autumn:

The autumn pruning in the garden does not affect all species. Roses and other spring-blooming plants, for example, should not be cut back until spring. Generally speaking, when pruning, less is more. Cut only dead twigs and branches, diseased plant parts or thin twigs near the trunk of the tree. Even if some plant parts hinder each other from growing, they belong cut off.

What plant you should plant in the fall:

In short, now early bloomers need to be in the ground. Typical autumn planting for the garden and balcony includes, for example, tulips, daffodils, snowdrops, hyacinths, as well as mullein and ornamental leeks. Plant the bulbs before the first frost so that they have enough time to take root. The longer the hibernation for the early bloomers, the better.

How best to fertilize your garden from October onwards:

Your lawn in particular needs special protection during the cold season. Use fertilizer containing potassium and low in nitrogen to make it more robust against frost. Don't forget: A lawn should be allowed to breathe. Therefore, regularly remove leaves from the lawn, otherwise there may be bare patches in the spring. Also mow him quietly into November.

How to winterize your plants:

We turn on our heating in the winter - and some plants also want to have it cozier then. For example, the following balcony plants and potted plants are not hardy: fuchsias, hibiscus, palms, angel's trumpet, lavender, herbs, geraniums, decorative lilies and many more. These must either be moved indoors or placed in their winter quarters. Alternatively, they can be wrapped with bubble wrap or special plant protection bags to protect them from frost. Another tip: foliage is excellent as a "heat blanket" for bedding plants.

Garden and balcony in the fall creatively design - so easy it is possible

Finally, we have some more selected garden ideas for the fall for you. Nature itself provides us with the most beautiful raw materials here. For example, from chestnuts, leaves and pine cones can be tinkered with any number of decorative accessories - far more than the little chestnut men, which you certainly know from your childhood.

It offered itself, for example, a door wreath of red-yellow autumn leaves. Also terraces can be designed with it wonderfully autumnal. Let yourself be inspired thereby also by the colorful assortment of the autumn chrysanthemums. Placed in a targeted manner, they will add striking splashes of color to your patio. In addition, an ornamental grass such as the Japanese blood grass as well as some additional light sources by solar lights, lanterns or fairy lights - and already your garden is also in autumn a real feel-good place.

Good to know - additional tips on garden furniture and artificial heat sources

Whoever wants to fully enjoy the fresh air on their outdoor spaces - whether garden, balcony or terrace - even in the cooler season, should rely on smaller and compact garden furniture. In contrast, larger, upholstered garden furniture can be stored in the dry when not in use to protect it from the cold and wet weather.

And even in autumn and winter, grilled specialties can be enjoyed outdoors. If the barbecue is to remain outside in the cold season, you only need to provide a suitable cover. As an additional source of heat when sitting together comfortably in the autumn outdoors is best suited a fire bowl, a radiant heater or heating mushroom. For the appropriate ambience you can then provide with light sources such as solar lights, lanterns or fairy lights.

Conclusion

In autumn, you can lay the foundation with some work so that your green home shows its best side next year. However, the autumn colors and "gifts" of nature in the form of leaves or pine cones also offer a lot of inspiration for decoration ideas. So you have a variety of options to make your garden or balcony a year-round place of rest.

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