The Flower Garden in Mid-Autumn: Clearing, Feeding, and Lawn Preparation

By mid-autumn in temperate climates, spring and summer growth is done — time to clear up and prepare for winter. Summer bedding is over, early chrysanthemums picked, first frosts blacken dahlias — winter is weeks away.

Protect slightly tender plants that summered outdoors in pots — move them to greenhouse cover ASAP. Night heat needed in greenhouse, occasionally day heat by late mid-autumn (earlier in cold/northern gardens). Greenhouse plants, heavily watered in summer, now slow growth — watering becomes less demanding.

Before false-spring growth ends, mulch and feed permanent plants and spring-display candidates. A final spurt building larger crowns before winter means better cold survival, earlier and more profuse flowering.

Leaf removal from lawns, paths, and drives starts late mid-autumn. But in borders and beds with herbaceous perennials and bulbs, leaves make excellent protective mulch. For annuals and biennials, remove leaves — small plants get smothered.

Lawns need little work — grass growth slows markedly. Still just time for a new lawn from seed. If planning turf, prepare soil now for late autumn turfing.