It always takes me a while to get used to the idea that summer. But the wonderful colours and fruitful bounties of autumn, eventually convince me it’s time to move on.
This season also brings the opportunity to do our bit to counteract the climate emergency. Numerous small changes in the way we garden, will add up and help combat the harmful effects of climate change.
October is a great time to plant a tree or two, the soil is still warm, and the weather cooler. This creates the ideal circumstances for trees to grow their root system through winter. Making them more mature and resilient, ready for whatever spring and summer throws at them.
Not only will trees beautify your garden, they help to combat climate change.
- Cleaning the air, absorbing polluting gases and filtering harmful particulates out of the air.
- Reducing flooding, soaking up excess water before it floods out onto surrounding streets.
- Providing food and habitats for insects and birds. We need all these creatures to keep a balance in the garden, so one species doesn’t get the upper hand.
Trees come in many shapes.
Many of our existing trees have been affected by diseases new to us, as the climate emergency causes warmer, wetter, winters and hotter, drier summers. Many bugs, that used to find our climate inhospitable, survive and flourish here in our new climate, leaving many plants and trees vulnerable to attack.
One of my favourite trees is an Ash, Fraxinus angustifolia Raywood, there’s one in the centre of our town and it looks spectacular in Autumn as the leaves change to a rich red. Sadly, according to The Woodland Trust, Ash Die-Back disease will eventually kill 80% of our Ash trees, that’s a lot of habitat loss for many species. I often wonder how long my favourite tree will keep going.
There’s some good information from The Royal Horticultural Society about trees for small gardens.
See more about Ash Dieback from The Woodland Trust.
Deepdale trees have some nice pictures of my favourite Ash tree, apart from the wonderful colour it has a nice, round habit of growth, take a look.
Planting a tree makes perfect sense, I hope you have the time and space to plant one.
Keep well my friends.
Jill
all photos: Jill Anderson
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