Glastonbury Gardening in the Autumn

It is definitely getting cooler, and with yet another frost last night I can now quite plainly see that summer is definitely over and begrudgingly I’ll have to put my shorts away for another 6 months.  

The nights are drawing in, the leaves are changing colour and the hedgerows groaning under the weight of berries, and autumn the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is definitely on its way.  Yet this is no time for gardeners to rest on their laurels as there is still plenty of work to be done in the garden at this time of year: raking up leaves and sticking them in the compost bin or in perforated bin bags to make leaf mould is a good start.  Late September is also a good time to plant trees, shrubs and perennials as well as spring bulbs, such as tulips, crocuses and my favourite flower, daffodil.

It is also the time to apply some well rotted manure and dig over heavy soil.  If you’re looking for tools for the job, B&Q is always worth a visit as they have plenty of implements to suit all budgets which allow you do get on with those tedious jobs. Meanwhile Proper Job has a good selection of budget items for the money conscious sow and sow.  Early autumn is also a good time to sow grass seed to either repair bald patches or instate a new lawn.

The cooler weather and the likely chance of increasing rainfall (it was chucking it down a couple of nights ago) make autumn the ideal time to plant. Roots will grow enough to establish the plants before winter and give them a head start in spring, so it is worth popping along to one of the local garden centres and nurseries to make your choices.  Sweet Acre Nursery just outside of Glastonbury on the Godney Road has a fair bit to offer with a wide variety of bedding plants and helpful staff, while Oakland's on the Street Road is an absolute Aladdin’s cave of gardening stuff with plenty of plants outside and an indoors jam packed with clobber, and both allow you to amble around leisurely and make your choices.

Morrisons supermarket always has a reasonable seasonal selection of garden products too so its often worth having a look around when you’re doing a weekly shop. 

It is also good to encourage birds into the garden by providing extra food, and peanuts and sunflower seeds go down well or you can also buy specialist bird mixes Tor Pet Supplies.  Bird feeders, bird tables and the ground itself can all be used as different areas suit different breeds.  Berry-bearing plants for an extra source of food for birds and other wildlife so these are worth growing if you want to encourage our feathered friends.

If you are a keen gardener and I'm sure there are plenty out there, perhaps you can share some of your tips here