Gardening experts say you should carry out these vital tasks this week to help plants recover before colder weather sets in
A gardening expert recommends three simple steps that gardeners should take immediately(Image: Getty Images)
UK households have been issued a one-week warning with the ‘last chance’ to save their gardens before autumn. Although it may look and feel like autumn has already arrived, a gardening expert warns that you have just one week to act.
As leaves begin to turn brown and plants wilt, many gardeners might think autumn has come early.
But experts warn this is a phenomenon known as ‘false autumn’, a survival response from trees and plants pushed to the brink by this summer’s record-breaking heat.
The Met Office says that extreme conditions can trigger plants to behave as if the season has changed, even while it is still officially summer.
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But with astronomical autumn beginning on 22 September, time is running out to reverse the damage.
“False autumn isn’t a picturesque seasonal change. It’s a warning sign that gardens are in distress,” warns Liam Cleary, gardening expert at Old Railway Line Garden Centre.
“Acting now could be the difference between losing plants this winter or seeing them thrive next spring.
“If you don’t help your plants recover before colder weather sets in, the stress of false autumn could leave them too weak to survive the winter.
“Weeks of high temperatures left soil baked and compacted, meaning even recent rainfall hasn’t been able to penetrate deeply enough to sustain roots. Without urgent action, gardens risk long-term decline.”
It could be your last chance to save your garden before autumn(Image: Getty Images)
The expert’s three-step garden rescue plan:
Cleary recommends three simple steps that gardeners should take immediately:
1. Mulch hack
Apply bark or wood chips around plant bases to lock in moisture and restore the soil’s sponge-like texture.
2. Deep watering
Use a watering can or drip hose for slow, targeted watering so moisture reaches the roots beneath the compacted surface.
3. Nutrient boost
Apply a liquid fertiliser to give plants the energy they need to recover and build strength before winter.
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