Nope, this isn't a post about garden sheds (you know, those wooden garden outbuildings that's meant to hide tools etc....) but plants shedding leaves in the autumn.
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| Some autumn colour (and llots of leaf litter) in the garden |
One thing I have noticed this year is that the shedding of the leaves of most deciduous trees and shrubs seems to be a bit more gradual and spread out for a longer period. Unlike in previous years when most of them do their blaze of colourful glory within a two week period (could be more, haven't really taken any semi accurate mental records) then shed their leaves and that's it, all is barren and skeletal. This year autumn seems, well, longer in that manner, and more colourful too which is a wonderful bonus!
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| Autumn sunshine is always appreciated! |
Autumn is a very messy month for the garden and any outdoor space for that matter. You either don't mind it and accept that it's all part and parcel of what characterises this season; or hate it for making the garden look messy and for giving you extra chores when its cold outside (or perhaps knowing that autumn is just a prelude to colder months about to come).
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| Looking graceful and elegant even if it's about to be shed off... |
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| Ginkgo biloba 'Variegata' |
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| This Euphorbia is giving its fair share of autumn colour too! - Euphorbia deflexa |
I don't mind it personally but to be honest it's as if I have a choice. There's no point disliking and having emotional fights with any particular season just because it's not my favourite. Disliking a particular season will just give anyone misery for months on end and can potentially wipe out significant chunks of your yearly life, not to mention feel dread whenever that season is about to come. There's always something nice to do for every season, and each has something nice to offer believe it or not. Just regard that one season will be your favourite over the other.
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| Dead leaves here, there... |
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| and everywhere. Even here. |
Anyway, back on topic, because the shedding of leaves seems more spread out this year means we can't tidy up in one short swoop. I did do some sweeping last weekend and pondered doing some more this weekend but opted to skip it this time. I thought what for? I may clear out an area now only to be filled back with dead leaves again within hours and for the next few days. I might as well wait till most of the leaves about to be shed have been shed, then I can do a larger tidy up session.
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| Still hanging on to its brown leaves - Magnolia officinalis |
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| This huge tree at the bottom of our garden is the biggest culprit of leaf litter, and it's only halfway through shedding them - Acer pseudoplatanus |
With the shedding of leaves actively happening at the moment, it is the evergreens that really take the brunt of having to carry the mess their deciduous counterparts make. I find it fascinating seeing how some of these evergreens look like with their crowns, leaves, and branches filled and carrying leafy debris. Some of them look quite pretty like that, in a strange sort of way but I know they shouldn't be left like that for long. Us gardeners will have to help them later on and clear off most these debris. Otherwise these debris will just rot in situ and will make the evergreens look unsightly, or could even be detrimental to them especially if it's in their crowns.
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| If you're an understory then you're bound to get some from the one on top of you... |
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| Fatsia japonica smothered... |
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| And so is this Trachycarpus fortunei |
All part and parcel of autumn maintenance this leaf clearing business. If I can be bothered later on I may even make gather some in bags to make leaf mould out of them, which the garden will appreciate much later on. Hopefully by early December most of the deciduous leaves have fallen, and on milder days that month I can spend some time gathering them up, an activity I find rather relaxing. One of the little joys of winter even.
Which goes back to the other point I was going about earlier. Sometimes it simply is just up to you to find and discover things to enjoy even if you perceive certain months and seasons as dull and dreary. You have to learn to help yourself find little joys and happiness, and not just let the seasons dictate you. Most of the time, you are in control of yourself, keep that in mind.
Mark :-)
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
I love fallen leaves. I think of them as future plant food but we are fortunate that they don't all fall at once in our climate. That would be a bit hard to manage. At the moment we have palm fronds falling everywhere as they send out new ones they shed the old.
ReplyDeleteThe Ginkgo looks so beautiful with its golden leaves.
Hi Missy, composted leaves do make such good soil improver and future plant food. It would be nice if they didn't all fall at the same time, but we do get the colours as the leaves change to enjoy. Falling palm leaves takes it to another dimension though!
DeleteFall is a season I really love here in Northern Cal... the daytime temps are often very mild and the vineyards are beautiful. The negative is because of the sun angle my back garden gets extremely shady while it awaits all the leaves to drop, and because the rains have started I have a slimy mess-I kind of look forward to December when the sun is unobstructed again. Unless it rains all month--another possibility here in 'fungus corners'..
ReplyDeleteWe also get quite shady in the winter months with the sun not getting over the neighbouring houses in places, but so far this year we have avoided any cold snaps, just a couple of mild frosts. I love the "fungus corners" name :)
DeleteThat is correct Mark! Do you remember here that sweeping is always a chore of mothers everyday? It is still my mother's job daily in the province, and considering we don't have autumn, those are just regular falling leaves! I wonder what will happen with all those big plants you have this coming winter, I will be so sorry for them as they are mostly tropical in their genes.
ReplyDeleteHi Andrea, yes I do remember those chores :) Most of those big plants you see in our garden and hardy, some are deciduous and go dormant, the rest are evergreen and do fine all winter. Some of the more tender ones do go under cover during winter.
DeleteYou are right about a more sustained autumn, I was thinking that only yesterday as I drove around Sussex. Things are pretty messy in my garden too at the moment but I'm not worried, I know no real harm is being done!
ReplyDeleteWe tend to remove some as they fall, especially if covering a plant completely but most get tidied up in one big exercise after all the autumn leaves have fallen.
DeleteYes Fall is all about shedding and a lot of hard work. Just finished up most of my work this year out there. I LOVE that Gingko.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
Well done on having most of it done now Cher, and we love the Gingko too!
DeleteYou are so right about finding joy in every season. I love fall but am so lazy that I just run over the leaves with my lawn mower and throw them directly on the beds. Youth variegated gingko is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThat's not a bad idea outlawgardener, we would probably do the same if we still have a lawn mower (and a lawn) :)
DeleteNothing better than getting out to clear up the garden on a cold Novembers day, put everything to bed for the winter and then enjoy a nice cup of hot tea admiring your efforts.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, on dry and sunny autumn days it's still quite nice to potter outside, with warm clothing and lots of cups of hot tea :)
DeleteHow can you not love autumn?!!!! Harvesting leaves for leafmould and throwing yourself into autumn planting and knowing that you can dig soil if you want to and leave it in clods for the frost to break up?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the drawn-out leaf fall though. I am getting to the point when I will climb the walnut tree and pick the leaves off if they don't get a wriggle on and do the decent thing. (Some of us will not get a rake out until the last leaf has fallen and this year, it might be Christmas before that happens).
We do like autumn, although it is the sign that the warm weather has gone for another season. I knocked some leaves off a large leafed fig as they had gone over but the winds were catching it, better to be safe then have it pulled over. Hopefully your walnut will behave and shed its leaves soon!
DeleteYour garden is lovely, whatever the season! After a steamy summer, I always welcome fall. I love the gorgeous fall foliage, and I am content with the sea of leaves that bury the garden. It is part of the season, and raking them gives me good reason to be outside for some exercise. Autumn is the best planting time for us, and we are fortunate that even in winter we have some nice days that make clean-up a pleasure.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debs, glad you enjoy it, we didn't have a warm summer this year, hopefully next year! And its nice to be outside whatever the weather. Last year we were mixing concrete in between Xmas and New year!
DeleteI popped out yesterday to plant something, couldn't get in to the greenhouse because something had been dumped in front of the door, and, well, one thing led to another and I wound up sweeping up the leaves the sycamores from next door had shed all over the oil tank compound. I rather enjoyed it, and I certainly enjoyed adding three more bags of future leaf mold to the collection. Interesting, your comment about autumn being more drawn out. I wasn't sure whether it was just because the climate is so different here, apparently not! I rather like the succession of colour it has provided us with.
ReplyDeleteSweeping leaves and tidying up is enjoyable partly I thinkg because of instant gratification. A little effort and the surroundings suddenly look tidier :)
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