Autumn garden jobs to tackle in May
As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, it’s the perfect time to get stuck into some essential autumn gardening tasks. Whether you’re tucking in your dahlias for their winter nap, treating Mum to a thoughtful green-thumbed gift, or making the most of those golden autumn leaves, there’s plenty to do before the real chill sets in.
1. Care for dormant dahlias
At the end of the growing season, once your dahlia stems have died back, cut them down to 10–15cm above the ground. In warmer climates with mild dry winters, you can leave the tubers in place and cover them with a thick blanket of sugarcane mulch to keep them cozy. In frost-prone areas, and places where winters are wet, it’s best to dig up the tubers carefully, brush off excess soil, and store them in a cool, dry spot in a box filled with dry sawdust. Label the varieties clearly—you’ll thank yourself come spring!
2. Spoil your mum
This Mother’s Day (May 11), treat your green-thumbed mum to a gift she’ll truly dig! Think quality gardening gloves, shiny new secateurs, or a beautiful flowering plant like cyclamen, camellia, or the classic chrysanthemum. For the practical gardening mum, how about a bag of premium compost or mulch? You know she deserves the best!!
3. Compost autumn leaves
Autumn leaves are garden gold! Instead of tossing them, make use of them in the garden. Spread them as mulch around plants or mix them into your compost. If you have lots, create a dedicated leaf compost pile – a spare compost bay works well, or make a simple leaf bin with a roll of chicken wire. Run over leaves with a mower to collect and shred them—this saves collection time and speeds up decomposition. Keep your leaf pile moist to encourage microbial activity, and by spring, you’ll have rich, crumbly leaf mould ready to feed your garden.
Autumn is a season of preparation, and a little effort now will set your garden up beautifully for the months ahead. Whether you’re giving your dahlias a well-earned rest, showing Mum some love with a blooming surprise, or putting those fallen leaves to good use, these small tasks make a big difference. So pull on your gloves, breathe in that crisp autumn air, and enjoy every moment in the garden before winter rolls in.
