Three Quick Garden Projects for This Week

A little time in the garden now can make a difference over the coming months. These three autumn projects will help you prepare for spring, recycle fallen leaves and improve a small area of soil.

1. Plant a pot of spring colour

Allow around 30 minutes.

Plant a container with dwarf daffodils, crocuses or Iris reticulata for something to look forward to after winter.

Choose a pot with clear drainage holes and fill it with suitable potting compost. Arrange your bulbs before covering them, following the planting depths and spacing on their packets. Leave some room beneath the rim for watering, then water and position the pot where excess rain can drain away.

For a longer display, choose bulbs that flower at different times. If you want to include tulips, plan their planting for November.

Read more: How to plant bulbs in containers.

2. Start a bag of leaf mould

Allow around 20 minutes.

Turn the leaves collected from your lawn and paths into a useful future soil conditioner.

Gather fallen leaves and place them in a strong, reused garden bag. Dampen dry leaves, make several holes for air and drainage, and loosely close the top. Put the bag in a shady corner where it can stay while the leaves break down.

Check occasionally that the contents remain damp rather than waterlogged. Oak and beech leaves take longer to decompose, so keep these in a separate bag if you have plenty.

The collection takes minutes; making the leaf mould takes patience. Starting now gives you a useful way to recycle autumn leaves.

Read more: Composting your garden leaves in the autumn.

3. Give one small border an autumn mulch

Allow around 30–45 minutes.

Choose a manageable section of border and remove the weeds before spreading well-rotted garden compost over the soil.

Aim for a layer approximately 5–8cm deep, keeping it away from shrub stems, tree trunks and perennial crowns. Leave it on the surface for worms and other soil organisms to gradually incorporate.

Work when the soil is moist and workable, postponing the job if it is saturated. There is no need to tackle the whole garden at once: improving one small section each week soon adds up.

Read more: GardenAdvice’s October guidance on soil, compost and mulching.