Autumn is for the gardener!
Acer rubrum starting to show the first signs of autumn
Autumn always feels a little low for me, I feel like my plants do, starting to pack up shop for the growing season. the days are getting shorter the nights are getting cooler. Early morning gardening becomes a little harder. but realically when thinking about the type of gardening that happens in Autumn its some of the best!
Here are some of my favourite autumn garden tasks.
1. Preparing for the next composting year
Autumn/fall is a great time to gather and store fallen, dried leaves for future compost carbon. I only collect leaves from hard surfaces and lawn areas, paths and in some instances high presentation garden areas. This allows the remaining fallen leaves to decompose naturally in garden beds, aiding in the development of nutrient-rich soil. Once I accumulate a surplus of carbon for the year, I keep collecting to make lovely leaf mould by heaping up the collected leaves then caging them in chicken wire. I collect from my garden and streetscapes, like the one behind my house thats lined with Plane trees and the one in front of the house lined with Acer rubrum.
2. Propagating new plants from cuttings.
It’s the perfect season to strike cuttings. Biologically plants are ready to lay down new roots, if you want ease when striking cuttings autumn is the time, working with the natural rhythm of your plants. This year im taking a load of cuttings from my perenial garden, to fill in spaces as well as share with friends.
3. Establish new plants and gardens
With the hottest weather behind us, but the soil still warm, its an amazing time to get planting, in fact, its the best time to plant out new gardens. Plants will establish more robust root systems helping them to rocket into spring. sure the plants my sit there seemly inactive thorughout the rest of Autumn and Winter but trust me, you’ll thank yourself come spring time, you’ll have a full garden with the strength to see though the hottest days of next summer.
4. Forage edible mushrooms
The ultimate autumn activity! For the last couple of years we have inoculated Lactarius deliciosus (Saffron Milk Caps), a culinary mushroom, into the soil beneath our radiata pines. This particular mushroom, prized for its flavour, is not commonly found in supermarkets due to its tendency to bruise blue when handling. Autumn heralds the emergence of the fungi's fruiting bodies, ready to be plucked from the earth. I'm keen to throw them into a delightful pasta dish
In addition to our cultivated supply, we love in foraging for Saffron Milk Caps in pine plantations throughout the local area. They truly are an autumnal delicacy!
However, it's essential to exercise caution while foraging. If there's any doubt about the identity of a mushroom, it's best to refrain from picking or consuming it. Remember, only take what you need and leave the rest to complete the fruiting and sporing cycle.
The autumn garden has lots to offer, sometimes I just need a reminder that the growing season is just changing, not gone altogether, in many ways it’s better than ever. Happy Autumnal gardening folks!