At Burnham Waters, the new lifestyle village in Essex for the over 55s, our first residents are now settled and enjoying life in their new homes here. 

Every one of our new retirement bungalows enjoys its own terrace, perfect for a few pots to add colour or a small trough to grow some seasonal vegetables. For those with a passion for gardening, we will also be delivering some onsite allotments, exclusively for our residents.  

With autumn fast approaching, there are lots of things you could be doing now, to help prepare your garden for the cooler weather to come. The team at Burnham Waters has put together some autumn gardening tips for the residents in our lifestyle village in Essex, and for all those gardening enthusiasts out there!  

Autumn is a great time to make changes to your garden. It’s time to plant spring bulbs and many other plants, mulch your borders and prepare new ground for growing.  

How to prepare your garden for autumn – our top tips

Mulch your flower borders

Mulch is the name given to a thick, loose layer of material which you can place on top of the soil in your flower beds or containers.

Adding this layer, such as bark or wood chippings, can help to suppress weeds, help the soil to retain more water and it can improve the quality of the soil overall too. What’s more, it can also help to improve the appearance of your flower beds, while giving vital protection from any winter frosts.

It is recommended that you apply your mulch in a layer two-three inches thick, taking care to leave space around the woody stems of plants.

Look after your soil

If you leave flower beds empty with exposed soil over winter, this isn't good for the soil’s health. Even if your vegetable plot, flower beds or pots are empty over the winter, it is advised that you add mulch to protect them.

Plant your summer veg

Autumn is the ideal time to plant many vegetables, which will then be ready to harvest, next summer. The best vegetables to plant in autumn include:

• Onions

• Garlic

• Spring onions

• Carrots

• Radishes

• Turnips

• Spinach

• Kale

• Lettuce

Plant your spring bulbs

The autumn is the perfect time to start planting your spring bulbs in pots or into flower beds. Flowers such as daffodils, hyacinths and crocuses are best if planted before the end of September, this is because the soil is still warm. In October and November, this is the best time to plant tulip bulbs.

If you are planting in pots, it is advised that you opt for a peat-free compost and make sure you really pack your bulbs in, to ensure a great display come spring!

Clear away all the leaves

While it may sometimes seem like a thankless and an endless task, it is always a good idea to clear the leaves off your lawn. This will help to keep the grass healthy.

How to get your garden thriving this autumn

If you are enthusiastic about adding some colour to your garden for the autumn but you’d like some new ideas or inspiration, here are a few ideas to get your outside area looking its best - and buzzing with wildlife.  

Grow some berries

Why not add a bit of colour to your garden or your pots with some berry bearing shrubs such as pyracantha and cotoneaster. As well as looking attractive and adding some colour, the berries can help to feed the birds through the winter months too.  

Feed the birds

The winter months can prove challenging for many local birds, which no-longer have access to as many freshly grown berries and fruit. As well as growing shrubs, which bear berries, why not add a bird table or a feeder. Foods such as seed mix, fat balls and mealworms are all great choices.  

Plant your containers  

Pots and containers are a great way to add colour to your garden. When selecting which plants to put together, try to ensure that all of the plants in the tub require the same amount of light and moisture. This way your plants will harmonise more effectively and give a better display.

Plant fruit bushes  

Planting fruit bushes, such as raspberries and blackcurrants now can ensure that you are rewarded with an abundance of fruit, come the summer months.

If you are short on space, these bushes can easily be planted in tubs or containers – ideal for the residents of our lifestyle village in Essex.

Have a tidy up

Autumn is the time to give your shrubs a light prune. Use a pair of secateurs to cut back any plants , which may have enjoyed some excessive growth over the summer. It will also help to keep them in shape.

Make sure that you also deadhead any shrubs and/or roses, and that you remove any diseased leaves or stems.

Three top tips for buying new plants

1. Buy healthy plants

Look for plants that are well established in their containers but don’t look like they have been sitting around for years in the same pot. If the roots are appearing out of the drainage holes in the tub and they look fibrous, white and fresh-looking, then this is a sign of a healthy plant that is ready to go in the ground. If you can see thick woody roots, this suggests that a plant has been in its pot for too long, and as a result, may not establish once it is planted.  

If you are buying new bulbs, make sure you look for plump bulbs, which are free of mould or shrivelled. If you can see any peeling outer layers this is normal and of no concern.

2. Set yourself a budget

Before you head out to the garden centre and start spending it’s worth setting yourself a budget. It can be very easy once you start picking up a few plants and a few new pots to find yourself spending a lot more than you had anticipated.  Why not choose some smaller plants, rather than splashing out on larger ones. Many quick-growing plants, such as perennials and grasses, can be bought in good-value, small pots and usually establish quickly and easily. It’s also worth noting that larger plants can take longer to settle and establish, and avoid planting large trees that are severely pot-bound as they may never stabilise properly.

As well as garden centres, you will often find that some green grocers and other local shops offer a selection of plants – at competitive prices.

3. Soak before planting

It is important to soak the roots of your new plants, before transferring them to the soil. Never plant dry root balls – spend time watering plants beforehand. If in doubt, dunk the plant in a bucket of water for at least 10 minutes. Once planted, evergreens may still require watering during winter in dry spells as they lose water through their leaves. Continue watering new plants through their first summer season, possibly longer on sandy soils or in drought-prone areas.

Watering is most effective first thing in the morning or last thing at night, and applied directly to the soil slowly but consistently.

We hope you have found the above tips and advice useful and that you are feeling enthused about getting your garden ready for the months ahead – whatever its size. For those residents at our lifestyle village in Essex, who are planting their pots and making the most of their outside space, we look forward to seeing your handiwork!

About Burnham Waters, the new lifestyle village in Essex

Burnham Waters is a vibrant new lifestyle village for the over 55s, situated in Burnham on Crouch in Essex. It offers the perfect blend of luxurious bungalow living, combined with the comfort and serenity of a rural village community. With the added benefits of on-site amenities and facilities for residents, everything you need is easily accessible and readily available.

Choose from a selection of one, two and three-bedroom bungalows - with the first homes now ready to move in to.

View our range of new build retirement bungalows here.

Explore our onsite lifestyle and leisure facilities here.

Get in touch

Are you interested in becoming part of our new lifestyle retirement village? We would love to hear from you.

You can contact us via email at info@burnhamwaters.co.uk, or complete our enquiry form today. If you’re interested in learning more about our properties, we offer a downloadable brochure, complete with everything you need to know about our retirement community.

Additionally, our Marketing Suite is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 3pm. Book your appointment today by calling  01621 861 559.

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