What should I be doing now?

[Bestbeforenow]

New to gardening this year. It was a delightful hobby through the spring and early summer and then I wore myself out hand watering scorched earth. Enjoying the damper, slower pace now.

I’ve given the beds a good weeding, attempted to divide some of the more vigorous plants, tried taking a few cuttings, and planted some bulbs.

What else should I be doing? And what do you do in the garden over winter?

This is really good, he is also on Instagram with weekly/monthly tasks

edited as the link looks odd, Michael Griffith, east Gardeninf. It’s a month by month guide made easier for us beginners
https://amzn.eu/d/0clSwkSO

Giving a little bump as I’m the same, new house, learning as I go. Done same ish as you Op.

have followed that instagram recommendation. At the moment I’m clearing leaves like a crazy person.

would love to join others also learning. Would like some basic veg and fruit. Have a little kitchen herb window which is doing ok.

You sound pretty on top of it! If you want to plant any roses, shrubs or trees late autumn is the best time- you can buy and plant them bare root which is much cheaper than buying potted.

One thing I'd try and do by early spring is mulch all the beds. That way they'll hold on to more of the moisture from autumn and winter next summer.

I just finished mulching my garden, planted out a few bare root plants and now the garden can look after itself until spring ☺️

Leaving leaves on flower beds is a good idea, they rot down. (Lazy)
I do a lot of planning this time of year…what looked good, what needs to change, things to try. Plant tulip and other spring bulbs too.

Also haven't followed the Instagram rec but you don't need to clear leaves! Advice over the last few years is to leave them on your flowerbeds to feed the soil, and only rake off the lawn (and put on your beds or make leaf mould) if there's more leaves than grass visible (ie if its just a thin patchy layer of leaves on the grass you can leave that too).

Autumn used to be a manic time for gardeners but all the latest knowledge of feeding the soil over winter and providing habitat for wildlife means it's a lovely calm time these days- a lot of it just involves enjoying it and planning next year!

Edited to add @pinkdyno if you wanted to get started on some veg you could plant some garlic now- it's up there as one of the very easiest veg to grow!

Autumn is a major time for gardening! I'm digging new beds, planting out loads of perennials to get established before next year when the heat returns, you can plant garlic, shallots, onions etc. now if you want. It's too late to sow now but I've got some Winter stuff growing like cavolo nero, Winter lettuce, parsley, and various cover crops to improve the soil in any new beds I've dug. I've got bare root trees ordered which will come sometime in Winter. Using fallen leaves as mulch on all beds. I'll be planting out more roses I grew from cuttings. Harvesting the last apples.

Are there any seeds can that be grown at this time of year in the greenhouse or is it just too late/early?

Does anyone have any tips on how to deter a squirrel from eating all of the bulbs I carefully plant?

Chicken wire over where you've planted can deter them. It doesn't look great but you only need to do it till they've sprouted. After that they seem less interested!