Although we are all busy enjoying the summer in all its glory, now is the time to get your garden ready for autumn. Summer is the time of the year where the garden will get the most use. In order for us to enjoy this every year, we have to keep it well maintained throughout all the seasons. Autumn is just around the corner, below are ten top tips to get your garden ready.

1. Assess your garden

Have a good look around your garden. You cannot get a plan in place if you don’t know what needs doing. Make sure you cover the entire garden and make note of anything that requires attention.

Image via: Shades Of Green Landscape Architecture

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2. Luscious lawn:

Everyone wants the perfect lawn, now is the time to prepare in order to ensure a positive result. Use an Autumn lawn fertiliser from your local DIY store. This will be high in phosphates & potash. This will help develop strong roots and create a nice and healthy lawn. Always follow the instruction on the back of the box for application and watering guidelines.

3. Plant spring bulbs:

Mid October is the best time to plant your spring bulbs which include tulips and daffodils. This is the best time before the ground starts to get hard and freeze.

4. Decking care:

If you are lucky enough to have some decking now is the time to give it some care and attention. Summer is the best time to paint your decking in order to make it look fantastic and protect it in Autumn and Winter. It would be recommended to give the decking a coat of Ronseal decking stain which waterproofs, adds UV protection and protects against cracking and blistering.

Image via: Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture

5. Preparing winter vegetation:

Everyone loves a parsnip and leek in there stew for the colder nights. Now is the time to start preparing your crop. Once planted, add generous amounts of mulch around them in order to protect them when the temperature drops.

6. Be cautious with pruning:

Some people will start pruning in Autumn but many garden experts would recommend not to do this. The main issue is that pruning promotes growth, this is what you want to prevent going into colder months. Most plants stay at their best when they are dormant in winter.

7. House plants:

Now is also the perfect time to fertilise your house plants. It would be recommended to use a balanced fertiliser and also give them a good shower. Most house plants don’t like drafts so always bear that in mind.

Image via: Alderwood Landscaping

8. Wooden garden furniture:

Autumn is known for been rather wet, now is the time to protect your wooden garden furniture. Start by giving them a coat of Ronseal teak oil which penetrates the wood and replaces all the oils that are lost though weathering. It is then wise to cover them with a thick protective sheet or move them into a dry area such as a shed.

9. Watch out for bugs:

This is when the bugs will come out to play and feed on your prized collection of plants. Make sure you check all the plants and deal with the bugs accordingly.

10. Wonderful wildlife:

Last but no means least fill up your bird feeder. Autumn can be a tough time for wildlife as well, so do your bit to help them out!

For more gardening tips on Stagetecture, click here.

Gardening is a great way to enjoy healthful and fresh produce like flowers, vegetables, or just greenery. However, not everyone has the benefit of a yard or a plantable land to start a garden. In case of limited space or limited sun, window box garden can be a way to enjoy some greenery.

Image via: HGTV

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Select Right Window Boxes

Box garden will let you to maximize small spaces in balcony or windowsill and turn bare soil into lush greenery. Window boxes are generally made of usual materials like iron, cement, wood, plastic, tin, copper, wire, fiberglass, stone, terra cotta, etc. Avoid metal and dark-colored boxes if your windows have sunlight all day because they can burn the roots of plants by getting heated up. Plastic window boxes are growing in popularity because they retain moisture. They are also cheaper and lighter even after they are planted. As terra cotta boxes tend to absorb water, supply enough water for your plants.

Choose a flower planter size right for you

With slight differences, the length of the boxes should be within a couple of inches of the window size. Plants need enough soil and room to grow properly. So, the boxes should be 8 inches wide in the top and root area to provide plants enough room. If you have any oddly sized windows, you can make customized boxes by using boards, brass screws, and waterproof glue.

Image via: Sashe

The Placement of Boxes

A sunny exposure will always be pleasing for most plants. However, you need not to worry if your windows are in shade. Many plants are there that grow in partial or full shade. In case of complete exposure to sun, you have to water the plants frequently. Some window boxes are rain protected. In that case, you need to check your plants often to see if they are getting dry.

Choosing the Right Plants

Picking the right plants does really matter in any kind of gardening. Choosing plants that contrast to their background can create a dramatic effect. For example, white flower plants against dark brick walls or bright orchids on the background of a light siding will look very nice. Annual flower plants and long-lasting vegetables for window box culture will give you less hazardous times. Green onions, petunias, sweet asylum, ivy geranium, English ivy, dwarf bulbs, lobelia, etc. will be perfect for your window box garden.

Image via: Houzz

Window box garden is a great option if you do not have resources to take care for a big garden. It is also a great way to involve kids to the fun of growing and harvesting their own food or increasing their love for green environment.

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The summer season provides a vibrant environment to your home exterior. If you have a home garden or lawn, it will clearly shine and look brilliant. But it doesn’t come without asking anything in return. The beauty of your yard depends on the sufficiency of water available for your plants. This summer learn how to conserve water and keep your plants looking fresh.

It’s not only your garden that needs water in your yard to maintain its vibrancy. You also have the lawn, your pool and anything that requires water. Indeed, the water consumption during summer time increases drastically. But water isn’t infinite and not for free. This is why essential measures to conserve water should be observed.

Image via: McClellan Architects

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Make use of your roof in beneficial ways:

Here are helpful and effective ideas on saving water in your summer yard this season:

This simply means to take advantage of the rain during summer season. It may not be as often, but then your roof can store a decent amount of water when it rains. You can use pipes as a hose to go directly into a drum or water tank. Also, water flowing from your gutter can be redirected to your landscape using a chain of rope.

Prefer potted plant containers

When you use containers for plants, watering them will be very easy and economical. You can simply use a water can more effectively into the pot than in a plain. More importantly, using potted containers to add up beauty and style to your backyard garden or landscape.

Image via: Design Sponge

Choose the right plants

Not all plants can sustain all types of season. A lot of plants have its best season to grow and can sustain themselves even at the peak of the season. For the summer season, plants like Osteospermum, Roses, Coleus, Sunflower and Blue Mist are perfect for the summer heat.

Saving water in your summer yard this season will definitely help our environment. You might say that you only contribute a little amount of help but there’s nothing too little when it comes to environmental concerns. Remember, water is life!

For more green living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.