Autumn 2022Gardening tips for autumn

Autumn is here and the nights are getting shorter but there’s still a lot to do in the garden. A great way to save money is to check the perennials in your garden. Popular perennials like agapanthus and dahlias need to be protected during winter.

About the writer
Silvana Devine is a social and therapeutic horticulture practitioner at Petrus Incredible Edibles Rochdale (PIER) which is a community allotment on Belfield Road in Rochdale.

Agapanthus

Our Silver-Gilt medal winning garden at the RHS Flower Show Flower Park had 50 agapanthus plants (50 agapanthus for our 50th anniversary)!

To protect agapanthus from a harsh winter, leave the foliage on the plant (cutting off any remaining spent seedheads) and cover the crown with straw or fleece over winter to protect from frost.

If your agapanthus are in containers, move them into sheds/greenhouses or a very sheltered spot near the house.

If your agapanthus are around five years old, you can divide congested clumps by lifting the clump from the container or ground and using a sharp spade (or old bread knife) to divide, ensuring there are growing points in each divided section.

Dahlias

Dahlias need to be lifted and stored ready for next year. Cut back all the stems to about 10cm above the ground, dig up the tuber with a garden fork, being careful not to damage the tuber. Remove any excess soil and leave tubers upturned in a cool, dry place for around a fortnight.

Following this, they can be stored in a box with peat-free compost, with their stems protruding above the surface, ready to be planted next spring.

Other perennials that can be divided at this time of year include geraniums, delphiniums, crocosmia, hostas and salvias. Dividing plants is a great way to increase your garden stock without the expense. It is also another way to garden sustainably, so it’s great for the planet too.

If you have vegetables, harvest the last potatoes and leave in a dry spot (greenhouse/ windowsill) before storing in a brown paper or hessian bag for longer term storage. Plant out spring cabbages, garlic and onions, but only do so if the soil isn’t too damp.

If herbs are still growing outside, such as mint, parsley and basil, repot on kitchen windowsill for use over winter. Alternatively, harvest all the leaves and freeze using ice-cube trays, so you can continue to flavour your cooking with herbs all year round.

Autumn is a great time to take stock of your gardening and make plans for next year. If you’d like some inspiration or more information and gardening tips, pop along to the PIER allotment on Belfield Road, Rochdale