Getting Autumnal In The Garden

We’re slightly scared to say the big ‘a’ word, but there’s no doubt about it, Autumn is in the air (and actually has been for a while, we’ve just been in denial). And we’re going to embrace it in our gardens this year! Not least the much-needed rain which we’re hoping and expecting to come along very soon.

Here are just some of the reasons we heart Autumn:

• Harvesting
• Tidying and prepping
• Sowing
• Planting
• Mulching
• Shopping

Harvesting

You’re likely already reaping the fruits of what you sowed earlier this year or even late into 2024. Seasoned gardeners and those who’ve gone all in early on in their gardening career are showing off their abundant crops of sweetcorn, apples, tomatoes, aubergines, pumpkins, squashes and more.

In my garden I still have lettuces which are keeping the chickens and me full of salad-y goodness plus a mixture of tomatoes grown from seed (thank you again, Steve) and purchased from garden centres plus apples. In my garage, I have onions drying and I’m ashamed to admit that I’m yet to harvest potatoes grown from seed rather later in the season than is acceptable. I’m sure they’ll be fine.

Tidying and Prepping

While Spring is – of course – the standout big garden season in terms of preparation, Autumn is perhaps something of an underrated gem. Although the warmer months are drawing to a close, those of us with a planning mindset will surely be getting slightly giddy about the abundant opportunities which the Autumn months present for preparing our gardens for 2026 and beyond. If you’re someone who loves rolling your sleeves up to make things spick and span, Autumn gardens will be yours for the win with all the dead-heading, pruning, composting and more.

In terms of tidying, if you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse, you’d be wise to get in there and clear pots of old compost (perhaps retaining this for seed sowing early next year), cut down any shade-throwing plants to give others light and having a good old tidy up in preparation for next year’s growing.

Any cobweb-covered cloches and coldframes pushed to the side to allow for warm sunshine to enter would benefit from a good scrub in readiness for stepping up to the mark in the colder months so you can keep your growing season going.

I’m itching to get behind a spreadsheet and clean sheet of paper to gather my thoughts and plan out what I’d like to do differently (and – all being well – better) in 2026 compared with 2025. Earlier this year I invested in a plant theatre area, inspired by Laura, along with the essential shabby chic salvaged galvanized buckets, pots, troughs and terracotta pots and planters, and I’m set on joining the bulb lasagne bandwagon and getting tulips and daffodils going in these before they make way for the dahlias.

Sowing

I think gardeners can sometimes suffer a bit of sowing ‘burnout’ after the new year and spring frenzy. I know I did this year. I have to remind myself to keep the successional swing going and get sowing more so that future me doesn’t miss out.

Having made a few attempts at growing spinach this year and then abandoning it for one reason or other, I’m going to try again this Autumn, probably with the help of cloches for protection. Giving the vegetable beds a seriously good mulch with our Fertile Mulch will help keep warmth and moisture in the soil for a little longer, too.

Planting

Last year (2024), I was super late to the planting party and – while I enjoyed having daffodils and tulips later in the year – vowed to be better organised in 2025 and enjoy an earlier flowering season. My Farmer Gracy wishlist is bursting at the seams and I cannot wait to splash out on

Mulching

Well it wouldn’t be an Equigrow post if it didn’t mention mulch, would it? Yes, as you may well guess, our Fertile Mulch features high on the Autumn garden theme and to do list. Mrs Equigrow (the big boss’ wife) likens mulching your beds and borders to wrapping them up in a warm and cosy duvet so they can have a nice sleep over Winter. I like that, but am also fond of the skincare analogy, whereby applying a generous coating of mulch to garden growing areas is similar to slathering a thick and lustrous face masque (mask?) on overnight. Whatever works for you: just make sure you get your mulch orders in ASAP so you have it ready to go and give your garden the goodness it both needs AND deserves. Seriously, it will thank you for it, I promise.

Shopping

Fellow shopaholics like me will surely be rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of stocking up on bulbs, seeds, mulch, cloches, coldframes and water butts to help care for and nurture plants and get ready for next year.