October 2023:
What a topsy turvy year we have had with the weather. This is going to show problems not just now, but in the spring next year. So do not be surprised if plants show stress symptoms. Leaves are turning yellow and brown early, they are safe to gather, ideal for the leaf heap which, in a years time will be a valuable mulch in the garden or used to bulk up your potting compost.
Autumn fruiting raspberries have put on exceptional late growth so do not worry if some of the fruit does not ripen. Now is a good time to plant up strawberry runners and get them well established for fruiting next season.
Do not be in a rush to cut back herbaceous plants. Let nature take its course and let them die back naturally and allow birds to feed on the remains and insects to find shelter for the winter. Early flowering herbaceous plants can be lifted and divided at this time, but leave the later flowering ones for the spring to divide.
It is a good time to check over your seeds to see what you will need to order now that the catalogues are coming out. Always an exciting time. Try something new next year.
With the seasons being unpredictable one job you can do to help relieve the stress on plants is to apply a good organic mulch to the soil. This will allow water to enter the soil slowly and not run off the surface causing erosion and it also keeps the soil water in the soil not allowing it to evaporate in hotter weather.
Autumn is a glorious time to enjoy the late fruits and leaf colours.