When the leaves slowly begin to turn and the air becomes cooler we can enjoy a wonderful array of autumnal colours in the woods, city parks and our own gardens. As soon as the leaves begin to fall from the trees the last gardening tasks for this gardening season and first preparations for the next gardening season begin. Large piles of leaves in every garden wait to be destroyed by playful children. The garden begins to prepare itself for a period of hibernation. Gardeners who would like to plant new hedges and shrubs ready for next year now have time to begin planning and planting.

The month of September is ideal for planting deciduous and fruit trees. It is also time to divide the root balls of shrubs planted several years ago. It is also important in the autumn to loosen the soil and prepare vegetable patches and flowerbeds for the coming gardening season. If you're looking for the right tool for digging and soil care, then the GARDENA combimax Stainless Steel Spade and Fork are ideal. Electric hoes make it easier to take care of tough soil preparation jobs as well as work compost into the soil. You should always turn over the soil completely before planting a new vegetable patch or flowerbed, if the soil contains clay and is poorly aired or full of weeds. It is important to loosen the soil gently if it is fine and rich in humus. The general rule of thumb for composting is that you should work in 10 litres of compost per square meter of soil each year. Remember to always start at the back of your plot and work backwards so that you don't have to walk over the soil you have just loosened.

Autumn is also a time for harvesting. Gardeners can now enjoy picking and harvesting the fruit and vegetables from their own garden. For those of us who want to prolong the fragrance of the summer it’s time to start pickling and preserving our homegrown produce. Jams, marmalades, jellies, liqueurs and tasty chutneys are not only colourful and delicious delights for the dinner table they also made ideal gifts for family and friends. Try preserving your homegrown produce using your own salad oil made with herbs from your own garden.

Enjoy the golden autumn - with GARDENA!