IN THE GARDEN
Today, in a changing climate, observing nature’s calendar is more relevant than ever
SHADES OF RED Autumn colours such as those of the Acer palmatum ‘Osakazuki’ (above) could see change as summer weather becomes more extreme; Bee Borders at the Botanic Garden (left)
University Botanic Garden in which we record leaf, flower and fruit development, along with leaf colouring and leaf fall in 90 tree species. Since the project started, we have noticed that there are definite shifts in the timing of these occurrences. As our data set increases, we will be able to build a picture to help us understand the effects of climate change and to grow and conserve plants in the future. Working with nature As autumn creeps towards us, we can expect to see leaf colour, leaf fall, hedges full of hawthorns and sloes and the onset of the first seasonal frost. But this year, given extreme summer weather, autumn may not be as predictable as it once was, potentially resulting in less autumn colour, early leaf fall, fewer fruits in our hedgerows and fewer or less severe frosts than we may have experienced in the past. While we may not be aware of it, gardeners are very much in tune with nature’s calendar. The impacts of any shifts in our seasons and weather may not be entirely predictable, but by observing seasonal biological changes in our own gardens, many of us are already adapting our gardening practices to suit a changing climate.
1. Plant trees and shrubs and hardy perennials once the soil is wet, but ensure you keep them moist over winter. 2. Sow seed of perennial plants such as Astrantia , Achillea and Centranthus . 3. Apply green manure to protect soil over winter and sow hardy crops such as broad beans and peas for harvesting in late spring. 4. Clean your greenhouse and cold frame ready for overwintering tender perennials. 5. Collect fallen leaves from the garden and add them to your compost bin or make a leaf litter bin for mulching the garden when the leaves have rotted down. 6. Spike compacted lawns and backfill the holes with fine grit or sand to improve drainage. Gardening jobs for October
Sally Petitt is head of horticulture at Cambridge University Botanic Garden
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK OCTOBER 2026 81
Powered by FlippingBook