Autumn Leaves: Natures Gift

Those who live in colder regions such as the southern parts of Victoria will know that autumn is the time of glorious leaf colours. There may be rich golden hues gradually fading to browns, bright oranges or glowing pinks and reds, depending on the kind of tree. The flaming colours of autumn leaves are one of the things that make autumn welcome.

If you haven’t yet made sure to get at least one tree for the sake of its autumn colours then consider doing so. Not only will it brighten up your garden, but also provide leaf mulch and fertiliser for next year. Once autumn leaves have fallen, they should not be raked and burned, but placed onto the garden for a ready source of mulch. Leaves that are wide tend to catch the wind and blow off the garden. There are several things you can do to prevent this. Putting the leaves through a mulching machine is one option. Keeping them in bags to rot down by spring is another.

In any case, leaves are nature’s gift to the gardener. They give pleasure with their bright autumn colours and provide needed nutrients and mulch for the garden next summer. A good mulch of leaves will hinder the growth of weeds.

If you are not sure which trees provide the best autumn colour and leaves for your garden, then consult with a professional gardener. Leaves are not the only way to help keep weeds at bay. Growing groundcovers that form a dense low mass is another way to deal with weeds. Some groundcovers are known and grown for their attractive foliage; others are grown for their flowers.

Choosing those groundcovers that will thrive in your particular soil is necessary, or they will become weak and spindly and allow weeds to take root in amongst them. Once weeds have taken over, it is difficult to remove them without pulling up the groundcover as well. Groundcovers can be grown in your ordinary garden, but they look their best when planted in a rockery.

A rockery can be a wonderful feature in the garden when done properly. You need to have the right mix of rocks and plants; otherwise the plants will end up hiding all the rocks from view. The best way to get the rockery of your dreams is to consult a professional. He will take care of all those onerous details and the hard work of installing rocks correctly. He will also be able to advise on what type of plants are best suited to your soil type and climatic conditions.