As the leaves begin to fall and temperatures drop, many homeowners assume their gardening duties are done for the year. But in truth, autumn is one of the most important times to prepare your garden for long-term success. At Wicked Gardens, we help homeowners across London and beyond make the most of the season with practical, professional landscaping solutions.

If you want your garden to thrive come spring, here’s how to make autumn count.

🍁 Clear Away Dead Plants and Leaves

Start with a good clean-up. While fallen leaves can add nutrients to your soil, a thick layer can smother your grass and harbour pests.

• Rake and compost excess leaves

• Remove spent annuals and any diseased plants

• Cut back perennials and tidy borders

This makes space for new growth and prevents rot over the winter months.

🌷 Plant Spring Bulbs Now

Want a colourful display in early spring? Now’s the time to plant your bulbs.

• Favourites like daffodils, tulips, crocuses, and hyacinths do best when planted in autumn

• Choose a well-drained spot with good sunlight

• Plant bulbs at a depth 2–3 times their height for best results

Wicked Gardens can help you design a vibrant spring layout, tailored to your space and soil type.

🌿 Improve Your Soil with Mulch and Compost

Autumn is perfect for enriching your garden beds. Adding organic matter helps protect your soil from erosion and improves its structure for the next growing season.

• Spread compost or well-rotted manure over beds

• Apply mulch around plants to retain warmth and suppress weeds

• Dig in soil conditioners to boost fertility

Healthy soil now means stronger plants next year.

🌳 Prune Trees and Shrubs

Pruning in autumn encourages healthy structure and removes damaged or diseased branches.

• Focus on shaping ornamental trees and hardy shrubs

• Avoid heavy pruning of spring-flowering plants (you might cut off next year’s blooms)

• Always use clean, sharp tools for best results

Our expert team offers seasonal maintenance services to keep your garden looking its best year-round.

🌾 Add Winter Interest

Just because it’s colder doesn’t mean your garden has to look dull.

• Choose evergreen plants like boxwood, holly, and winter jasmine

• Add structural interest with grasses, seed heads, and ornamental bark

• Install outdoor lighting to enjoy your garden even on darker evenings

At Wicked Gardens, we design gardens that shine in all seasons.

✅ Why Autumn Maintenance Matters

✔ It reduces pests and disease in spring
✔ It improves soil health and structure
✔ It sets the stage for strong spring growth
✔ It keeps your garden looking tidy and inviting through winter

📞 Let Wicked Gardens Handle the Hard Work

If you’d rather leave the raking, pruning, and planning to the pros, we’ve got you covered. Our autumn garden maintenance packages are tailored to suit gardens of all sizes across Lewisham and the Greater London area.

📞 020 8244 7700
📧 info@wickedgardens.co.uk

Whether you’re planning a garden redesign or simply want to keep things tidy for winter, Wicked Gardens is your trusted local expert.