September 19th, 2023 by Shauna Hammond

If you love spending time in your garden or starting new and exciting projects, sometimes you may feel a little more limited when the colder seasons of autumn and winter roll around. However, there are plenty of ways you can still get out and enjoy the garden this autumn. In this blog, we will look at some of the fun projects you can do in your garden or home this autumn to keep idle hands busy!  

Start A Seed Project

Although you may not necessarily associate autumn with seeds or planting, it is actually a great time to start planting whether you want to start preparing flowers ready for spring, start with some cool-weather vegetables or start your own herb garden there are plenty of projects you can get started on this autumn.

Preparing Spring Flowers

Autumn is a great time to get busy preparing your garden for spring so that you can be greeted by a display of bright, colourful and fragrant flowers as the temperature begins to rise. There are a few bulbs that you can plant that will benefit from the cool and damp climate of autumn as well as the dormant period provided by the winter.

Some great spring-flowering bulbs to consider planting during the autumn are tulips, daffodils and hyacinths – be sure to make sure they are planted in areas that will still receive sunlight and that the soil in the area has good drainage to avoid. This way the bulbs can be nurtured during the cooler seasons ready to bloom in spring.

Some perennial flowers that are ideal for planting during autumn are peonies, irises or daylilies. These will establish their roots during the cooler periods ready to bloom in spring. Like with your bulbs be sure that the soil has good drainage and make sure to mix in plenty of organic matter to help protect against disease and frost as well as provide plenty of nutrients.

Start A Cool Weather Vegetable Garden

If a flower garden isn’t quite up your alley, then why not consider a cool-weather vegetable garden? Not only will your efforts be rewarded with delicious and fresh vegetables that you can use to make meals they will also add a splash of colour to your garden during the cooler seasons. Here are some of the vegetables we recommend adding to your vegetable garden.

Cabbage

While cabbage can take up to 6 months to fully mature so you are unlikely to benefit from them until around early spring if you were to plant them now. The great news is that they are extremely cold-hardy so they will grow well throughout autumn and winter without much issue. Consider using covers during extremely low temperatures to avoid frost damage.

Brussel Sprouts

Much like cabbage – Brussel Sprouts are slow-growing long-bearing vegetables so while you will likely not be able to harvest them in time for your Christmas dinner they are still a great option to plant during the autumn as they thrive in the cooler temperatures and are very resilient against the cold. However, they can fall prey to pests such as slugs during the early period of their growth so it is recommended to begin growing them indoors or inside a greenhouse until they are more established when they can then be planted outdoors.

Spinach

Not only is Spinach packed full of nutrients that make it a great vegetable choice from a nutritional perspective, but it thrives in cool temperatures making it an ideal choice for autumn planting. Spinach can also be harvested earlier to make baby spinach after as little as 15 days or they can be left to grow to full maturity which can take as little as 6 weeks so you can benefit from this particular vegetable fairly quickly too!

Carrots

With the right care, carrots can be harvested all year round and thanks to their hardy nature they can be planted even in late autumn. Generally, they take between 12-16 weeks to mature, so you can enjoy the fruits of your labour relatively quickly too. Be sure to harvest your carrots as soon as they are large enough, leaving them too mature too long can affect the flavour.

Radishes

Radishes’ are not only resilient against cool weather making them ideal to plant during the autumn period, but they are also very fast growing being ready in as little as 25 days. This makes them ideal for late planting and you will not have to wait a long time to taste their delicious flavour either!

Indoor Herb Gardens

If planting in cold autumn weather doesn’t appeal to you or perhaps you do not have the room to cater for a full vegetable garden or flower beds, then not to worry as you can instead create an indoor herb garden. This is a great project that can be started at any time of the year and since you will be keeping your herbs indoors you do not need to worry about the cold weather affecting your or your plants!

Having an indoor herb garden is a fantastic idea as it can provide all year round not only does it provide the avid cooks among us with a supply of fresh delicious herbs it can make your home incredibly fragrant too. You can use a window box to grow your herbs to ensure that your herbs are getting plenty of sunlight – if you are not familiar with growing herbs, then you want to start with some more hardy beginner-friendly herbs that are more forgiven of the occasional mistake - here are our recommendations for those just getting started.  

Basil

Basil is one of the most popular herbs for both seasoning and growing, it is resilient and does not require too much care making it ideal for those just starting out. While Basil will thrive more in bright indirect light they are capable of adapting to lower lighting too so even if they don’t get too much sunlight it should not affect their growth! A few important things to keep in mind are to make sure the soil is always moist but not waterlogged and to remove the top leaves regularly to encourage full bushier growth.

Oregano

Oregano is very similar to Basil in that it makes for an excellent and popular seasoning, but is also robust in nature making it ideal for indoor growth and the odd mistake will not result in it immediately withering. Much like Basil, Oregano can adapt to lower lighting so even in periods without too much sunlight it should not greatly affect growth, they should also be regularly trimmed to ensure fuller growth, however, the soil around it should be allowed to dry out between watering.

Mint

Mint is hardy in nature and can thrive in a range of lighting conditions, from bright light to partial shade so it is ideal for those who do not get too much natural sunlight in their home. Mint can be a little invasive compared to other herbs so it is recommended to keep them separate from over herbs to prevent it from taking over. Allow the soil to partially dry between watering to ensure you do not overwater.

Thyme

Thyme is another great herb for those getting started, though it is not quite as forgiving as the other herbs mentioned above as it is not quite as adaptable to low-light areas, in order for Thyme to thrive it needs bright to moderate light, it should be placed in an area where it gets plenty of sunlight. Allow the soil to partially dry between watering you can trim Thyme as needed.

Parsley

Parsley is an incredibly versatile herb that can be used in many dishes, making it a must-have for any herb garden. It is a little more maintenance than the other herbs so far as it requires moderate to bright light so will need to be placed in an area with plenty of natural sunlight, the water should be continually kept evenly moist and it will require regular pruning to ensure even and busy growth.

Chives

Chives are another resilient herb that is a staple of any herb garden, with their mild onion flavour they enhance the flavour of many savoury dishes. Chive needs moderate to bright light so should be placed in an area with plenty of natural light. Soil should be kept consistently moist and it should be divided and replanted when they outgrow their container.

Make a terrarium

If you are looking for a fun project that does not require much maintenance and yields quick results, then why not try your hand at making your own terrarium?  A terrarium is a self-contained ecosystem, and making one can be a fun way to add some life to your home. It's relatively simple to get started and it’s something that children can get involved with too!

Terrariums are great because they're low maintenance; once you've put all the plants together, they'll pretty much take care of themselves. The only thing that needs regular watering is moss or other ground coverings (like pebbles), which should be done once every few weeks. You also want to make sure that there isn't too much humidity in there--if there are any signs of mould on leaves or walls of soil then remove those parts immediately and increase airflow by opening up vents or windows nearby until everything dries out again before putting them back into place again.

Let’s take a look at what you will need to get started:

A Suitable Container

A glass container is optimum, preferably one with a lid – the size depends entirely on preference but you can choose anything from a fish bowl to a mason jar.

Pebbles or Gravel

Pebbles or gravel will be used to layer the bottom of your container as a means of drainage the amount will depend on the size of your container but generally, you will need about a 2-inch layer.

Potting Mix or Soil

You will also need a layer of well-draining potting mix or soil for your plants.

Plants

You will also need to select a range of small plants that are suited for terrariums we would recommend taking some time to research these in order to find the right ones for you, however, the most common choices included succulents, moss, ferns or miniature tropical plants. The most important thing is to ensure your plants all have similar needs in terms of light and water requirements.

Tools

You won’t need too many however a pair of long tweezers can make planting and arranging your decorations much easier and a small funnel for adding your different layers will give you better control.

Activated Charcoal

This an optional layer, and while it isn’t a requirement adding a layer of activated charcoal can offer protection against rot or toxins as well as reduce the risk of any bad odours developing.

Decorations

You can also add decorations to your terrarium to add a more personal touch these can include small figures, or even little signposts - the possibilities are endless and are a great way to get kids invested.

Once you have all the bits you need, it's time to start assembling. While this isn’t difficult we highly recommend looking up a detailed tutorial online to ensure you do not miss any integral steps!

So, there you have it, a few great ways to make the most of the autumn season. We hope that this has inspired you to get out there and enjoy the season.