Episode 31

Deciduous leaves are a wonderful resource from which to make leafmould and this is a great time of the year to start collecting them as they begin to fall from the trees. All leaves are suitable, although some will break down more quickly than others. If you don’t have a tree in your garden, why not approach a friend or neighbour, or even your local parks department? Most people will be only too glad to get rid of their fallen leaves!

Once you’ve got your leaves, place them in a bin liner and give them a water before loosely tying up the top. Pierce the sides to allow in air and place somewhere shaded out of the way - it’ll take a while for the leaves to rot down. Leafmould that is about a year old can be used as a soil improver or mulch for woodland plants, but if you wait another year, you could add it to an equal volume of compost to create your own planting mix for bulbs and young plants.

How to make leafmould (www.rhs.org.uk)

Now is the time to sort through any seeds you’ve saved over the summer. Check that they are still in good condition and then sieve to separate the seed from the chaff. The sieved seed can then be stored in paper bags or envelopes, or even in an airtight container. Label and place somewhere cool and dry until ready to sow.

More on storing seed (www.rhs.org.uk)

Some places in the UK have already experienced a frost and as there are likely to be many more, now is a goodtime to bring in tender bulbs like eucomis and evergreen agapanthus. Deciduous agapanthus can be kept outside as they are more hardy than their evergreen cousins, but in cold areas, it’s worth moving them to a sheltered spot and covering them with a layer of horticultural fleece.

More on overwintering tender plants (www.rhs.org.uk)

Ideally, we would all clean and oil our tools over the course of the year, but in reality we never get round to it! Over the winter, however, it’s worth giving them a bit of attention. Rub down your metal tools with some wire wool, particularly those used for cutting, oil and sharpen and put away ready for action.

How to sharpen your garden tools (www.which.co.uk)