As autumn rolls around and the temperature starts to dip, it may seem like the work in the garden has been completed for the year – but there’s always something to be done! There are a few things that you should do to make sure that our wildlife stays happy and safe this autumn while giving your green space one last tidy before the winter season is here.
We’ve put together our top three tips to help you keep your garden looking its best and give those birds, mammals and insects a helping hand.
1. Turn fallen leaves into leafmould
Fallen leaves can become a problem for your lawn if they’re left for a long period of time, but they can be very useful to garden wildlife when turned into leafmould.
A covering of leaves over your grass can starve it of much-needed light and oxygen, causing it to turn bare and patchy, so it’s best to collect them up as quickly as possible. For speed and ease, our BV6040VZ Cordless Blower Vac effortlessly clears medium to large sized gardens, unveiling your lawn in minutes!
Once all of the leaves have been collected, place them into a container, moisten them if they are dry and then wait for the magic to happen! This isn’t a quick job though – it can take up to two years for your leaves to properly break down. When it is ready, you will have a nutrient rich mulch that you can use on your plants and crops. It will also provide food and warmth for all types of wildlife and insects during the colder months.
2. Trim your hedges
If your hedges are starting to look unruly, now is the best time to trim them back. October is outside of breeding season for birds, so it’s very unlikely that there would be anything making itself at home in them. Annual trimming can also help to improve the structure of your hedge while also boosting flower and berry production, so there should be more food available for wildlife year after year.
To make trimming quick and easy, our H5024V Cordless Hedgetrimmer is built to tackle the most demanding jobs, with its robust 50cm double sided blade making cutting and shaping a breeze. For harder to reach places, our LRH5024V Cordless Long Reach Hedgetrimmer will make light work of tall hedges. Plus, both machines are run on our cordless battery technology that offers a powerful run, in a more lightweight design.
3. Prune trees and shrubs and give back to the wildlife
Autumn pruning has a multitude of benefits; it helps to keep trees and shrubs healthy, vigorous and balanced. It doesn’t have to be a hard job either as our CS1024V Cordless Chainsaw provides a powerful yet lightweight chainsaw that’s perfect for tidying up around the garden. Plus, with a 10” Oregon bar, it’s always up for the job, no matter how big or small.
After pruning, make sure to keep any logs of wood or thicker branches. You can stack them together behind shrubs or at the back of borders. This will create the perfect shelter for wildlife, such as woodlice, spiders and beetles as they will be able to make a home in between the wood.
As we wind down our gardening activities for the year, there are thousands of bugs, birds and other wildlife creatures that will be outside and looking for shelter during the winter month – making sure they are well looked after is just as rewarding as admiring your beautiful green space!
How have you helped the wildlife this autumn? Make sure to tag us on Instagram and share your snaps so we can see what you’ve been up to in the garden this autumn! We’re on @cobragardenmachinery.
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