Gardeners urged to do one thing to protect plants as autumn arrives early
Its been a longdry summer but gardening expert Diarmuid Gavin has an easy task for everyone to help their young trees and shrubs recover before the colder months
Dont stop watering just because were not in the midst of a heatwave it could be a matter of your trees survival ImageGetty Images
It’s always fun when gardening makes the newsThey were running a report the next day on whether autumn was arriving early this year and wanted a bit of garden-based insight.
u200c
I was happy to oblige camera tilted just enough to keep the weeds out of shotand ended up chatting live from the garden about one of our favourite national topicsthe weatherBut is autumn really creeping in ahead of scheduleLet’s take a look.
u200c
Have you been noticing conkers on the groundhedgerows heavy with berries and leaves already beginning to glow gold and redWhen the summer has been challengingthey sometimes close down certain parts of themselves early to conserve energyA dry start to the seasonwith warm spells that pushed growth on quicklyleft some trees feeling the strainEven when the rain returnedstress had already triggered that change towards autumn.
Have you noticed conkers on the ground and hedgerows heavy with berriesSome plants are moving into autumn mode early ImageGetty Images
I’ve seen it in my own gardenI grow tree fernsand earlier this summer some of the fronds shrivelled before their timeThe plant effectively stopped sending water and nutrients to themsacrificing the older fronds so it could focus its energy on producing fresh new growth.
u200c
What’s happening in some of our trees now is much the sameThey’re pulling resources back from older leaves and fruiting earlier than we’d expectas a way of protecting themselvesCooler nights in August have added to the effect.
Certain species are very sensitive to those temperature dropseven if the days are still warmand that’s enough to start the chemical changes that bring out autumn colours.
This year also began with an early springBuds burst ahead of schedule and leaves have been working for longer than usualso for someit simply feels like time to restThe question isare we really seeing autumn arriving earlyor just the effects of stress?
u200c
Certain tree species are very sensitive to temperature dropseven if the days are still warmand its enough to start the chemical changes that bring out autumn colours ImageGetty Images
In many cases this yearit isn’t the classic colour change first but leaf fall leaves browningshrivelling and dropping after the strain of drought and heatThat’s not autumn in the normal sensebut rather a plant’s emergency measure to protect itself.
Alongside thatthoughthere is some genuine early colouring happeningencouraged by those cooler nights and the long season since springA rowan or birch might already be aflame while an oak right beside it is still in full summer green.
u200c
Each plant responds to its own experienceYou may wonder if it is climate change and while a single year doesn’t tell the whole storyit does fit with the trends scientists are tracking earlier springsshifting seasonal patterns and in some casesan earlier arrival of autumn signs.
It isn’t all bad newsA slowearly start can mean a longermore colourful display if September brings bright days and cool nightsWildlife will take advantage toowith berries for birds and nuts for squirrelsthough there’s always the risk supplies could run out before winter is overFor gardenersespecially those with young trees and shrubsit’s a good time to water deeply and help them recover before the colder months arrive.
Purchase some prepared bulbs such as hyacinth and amarylliswhich will flower in time for Christmas ImageGetty Images
u200c
This isn’t summer giving upIt’s nature adapting to the year’s ups and downslike my tree ferns letting go of older fronds to protect the new onesSome plants began their work early andafter a season of challengesthey’re choosing to rest early too.
Jobs to do this week
Keep deadheading roses and dahlias to prolong flowering.
Seed collection is best done on a dry day arm yourself with some small brown envelopes and a pen to label what you collectSeeds for spring sowing can be stored somewhere cool and dry but not in your airing cupboardwhich is too warmSome seeds can be planted straight away such as astrantiafoxgloveangelicaaquilegiameconopsisprimulaorlaya and delphinium.
Purchase some prepared bulbs such as hyacinth and amarylliswhich will flower in time for ChristmasThese make lovely presents as well as indoor decorations.
Keep deadheading roses and dahlias to prolong flowering ImageGetty Images
Article continues below
Plant out your spring cabbages and cover with netting to protect from birdsAutumn onion sets and garlic can also be planted out now.
While the soil is still warmit’s a good time for planting herbaceous perennialstrees and shrubs and for soil improvement.
Aerate your lawns and repair bald patches while we are still in the growing season.
When harvesting potatoesremove all the little ones from the soil as wellas these can harbour disease.
