Colleague shares top tips on caring for your garden in the autumn

Wetherby Manor’s activities co-ordinator Janet Aston shares her top gardening tips for autumn, and what inspired her passion for the outdoors 

Janet’s enthusiasm for the outdoors mainly came from her late father, who was head gardener at Bramham Park. He taught Janet everything she knows about gardening as they spent many hours outside and on allotments where he grew show vegetables that won him lots of silverware! Her passion for gardening is something she shares with residents at Wetherby Manor, and so many activities centre around the hobby such as flower arranging and entering annual gardening competitions.  

Janet’s top tips for maintaining your garden this autumn 

Look after your lawn - clear dead leaves off the grass regularly so the lawn is not deprived of sunlight which could result in brown patches or even dead turf. 

• Remove moss and aerate the grass 
• When mowing your lawn for the final time of the year treat it with weed killer and apply autumn fertiliser
• Tidy all borders and remove any dead stalks or leaves before they rot  
• Remove and cut back any faded perennials and spread mulch in the borders to protect plants over winter 
• Plant spring flowering bulbs - you could also plant some seasonal vegetables such as cabbage and onions  
• Start making compost from dead leaves, old bedding plants, old raked out moss from the lawn and grass cuttings  
• Tidy and repair any damage to your fences and garden shed and fix any broken glass in your greenhouse  
• Pack away any garden furniture you will not be using in the winter months 
• Trim hedges and clear any leaves with a leaf blower  

Gardening is a pastime many of our residents enjoy and it has physical and mental benefits. Not only does it help foster relationships where people can work together to create interesting outdoor spaces and share tips and tricks, but it is also a great way to enjoy the outdoors and get some gentle exercise. 

At Anchor, we’re passionate about creating ways for people to enjoy living in later life. Having access to beautiful outdoor areas and giving residents the opportunity to cultivate their own spaces is just one way we do this. This year, we hosted a gardening competition for our housing residents and outdoor events, including a sunflower growing competition for our care residents to bring people together and enjoy nature.