HOME + GARDEN
Autumn Gardening , Dobbies months will help protect it against the power of mother nature . Water leaks will be the beginning of the end for your garden shed and everything that ’ s stored inside , so it ’ s important to ensure they are in hand and the easiest way to achieve this is by coating your shed in a waterproof paint ; one that ’ s suitable for wood . You should also ( if not already there ) think about adding a shed felt to your roof ; be warned , this isn ’ t the easiest of tasks so you could consider seeking help or watching a few YouTube videos before attempting this one yourself .
Store your furniture Exposed furniture , particularly wicker , won ’ t last during the cold winter months , so finding a storage solution is definitely the way forward . While stuffing it in the garden shed might be the easiest option , investing in a self-contained storage unit that ’ s weathertight will ensure it stays in tip-top condition for next year . Use hot soapy water to remove any dirt and grime from wooden furniture and coat with a varnish or treatment to prevent it from going mouldy . Plastic furniture will discolour if left outside in the open and iron will rust , so again , once you ’ ve given them a good wash down and a treatment , store them appropriately away from the rain .
Think wildlife The winter months can still have their perks for us humans , and at the end of it we can always take shelter at home in the dry , but for wildlife this time can be increasingly difficult . There are lots of things we can do to support our wildlife through this time of year and the biggest point is providing a food source . Birds will struggle to find food during the winter , so keeping on top of your bird feeders is a great way to help out . Consider difficult types of feeder , some hanging and some on the ground ( obviously away from the squirrels ) as this will keep a variety of different species happy and full . Another way to keep the birdies happy is to provide them with a constant supply of fresh water ; ponds and lakes may freeze in the winter months so they will become reliant on your birdbath , which is all the more reason to keep it topped up . Less obvious creatures like insects are still in need of a shelter during the cooler months , so creating a haven for bugs to stay warm is essential . Whether it ’ s a pile of bricks , wood , or leaves , your hotel will give them a fighting chance , so anything you can do will help .
RUXLEY MANOR ’ S TOP TIPS
Voted Best Overall Destination Garden Centre South Thames by the GCA , Ruxley Manor (
www . ruxley-manor . co . uk ) near Sidcup is the leading garden centre in the South of England .
HERE ’ S RUXLEY ’ S TOP TIPS FOR AUTUMN GARDENING :
Buy a planted container – for minimal effort and maximum impact , you can buy a ready planted container packed with plants to give you the perfect autumn colour .
Help wildlife – remove leaves from paths or lawns and transfer them to a corner or beneath a hedge where hedgehogs and other animals can crawl for shelter .
Give your bulbs a boost – if you would like to give your autumn bulbs a boost you can add a high potassium fertiliser like the Westland Fish Blood & Bone every 10 days or so once sprouts begin to appear .
143