If the leaves in your garden are turning brown and falling, you might think autumn is here. However, this could actually be a sign that your garden is suffering. With astronomical autumn beginning on September 22, any early leaf dropping or colour change could be a sign your garden is in distress.
Liam Cleary, gardening expert at Old Railway Line Garden Centre, said: “If you don’t help your plants recover before colder weather sets in, the stress of false autumn could leave them too weak to survive the winter.” False autumn is a survival response from trees and plants pushed to the brink by this summer’s record-breaking heat.
The Met Office confirmed that extreme conditions can trigger plants to behave as if the season has changed, even while it is still officially summer. Although brown and wilting leaves aren’t necessarily aesthetically pleasing, this is more than just an issue of appearance.
Weeks of scorching temperatures over summer have left the soil baked and compacted, so even if you have experienced recent rainfall, it may not have penetrated deeply enough to sustain the roots of your plants.
Without urgent action, gardens risk long-term decline. Liam said: “False autumn isn’t a picturesque seasonal change.
“It’s a warning sign that gardens are in distress. Acting now could be the difference between losing plants this winter or seeing them thrive next spring.”
To save your garden, Liam recommends three key things to do immediately. First of all, apply mulch around your plant bases to lock in moisture and then deep water them.
Use a watering can or drip hose for slow, targeted watering so moisture reaches the roots beneath the compacted surface.
Finally, apply a liquid fertiliser to give plants the energy they need to recover and build strength before winter.