An autumn tidy, done selectively
An autumn tidy isn't cutting everything to the ground. Plants that collapse into mush, like hostas and daylilies, are cleared. Plants with strong stems and good seedheads, like sedums, echinaceas and ornamental grasses, are usually better left standing. They catch the frost, feed the birds and shelter insects through the winter, and they're cut back in late winter instead.
Borders are weeded and edged, tender plants are protected, and leaves come off the lawn and paths before they smother the grass and make the paving slippery.
Overgrown gardens
Whether it's a rental between tenants, a garden that came with a house, or one that has simply got away over a couple of summers, clearance starts with a walk round. Anything worth keeping is marked before work starts: a good shrub under the brambles, a rose worth saving, bulbs you can't see yet.
Then it's cut back and cleared, and the ground is forked over. Brambles, nettles and perennial weeds are dealt with at the root, not just the tops, so they don't come straight back.
Leaves are worth keeping
Fallen leaves make leaf mould, one of the best soil conditioners there is, and it costs nothing. Where there's room, I'll set up a simple leaf mould pen so this year's leaves feed next year's borders.
Hedgehogs first
Piles of leaves and brushwood are exactly where hedgehogs choose to hibernate. Every pile is checked by hand before it's lifted, and where there's space I'll leave a quiet corner heap for them.
Where the waste goes
I'm a registered waste carrier with Natural Resources Wales, so the green waste I take away from your garden is carried legally and composted at a licensed site. Nothing is burned on site and nothing is fly-tipped. It matters to you too: if waste from your property is dumped by an unregistered carrier, the householder can be held responsible. General waste such as rubble, old fencing or furniture is priced separately.
What's included
- A walk round first to mark anything worth keeping
- Cutting back, chosen plant by plant
- Leaf clearance from lawns, beds and paths
- Weeding, including perennial weed roots
- Edging and forking over
- All green waste taken away
- Hedgehog checks before any pile is moved
Questions
Do you take all the waste away?
All the green waste, yes, and it's included in the price. Non-garden waste like rubble or furniture can be quoted for separately.
Can you do a one-off clear-up?
Yes. Plenty of clients start with a one-off and then move onto a few visits a year to keep it in hand.
Should everything be cut back in autumn?
No. Leaving strong stems and seedheads standing until late winter is better for wildlife and looks good in frost. Soft, collapsing growth is cleared.
Can you help with a rental property?
Yes. End-of-tenancy and pre-letting garden clearances for landlords and letting agents are welcome.
