How-to
Autumn Garden Checklist (UK)
9 min read · Updated August 2026
Autumn is the busiest and most important season for garden maintenance, even though it doesn't always feel like it. What you do (or don't do) between September and November largely determines how your lawn, borders and hard landscaping look the following spring. It's also when a lot of the problems that cause trouble over winter - blocked gutters, waterlogged lawns, weak fence posts - either get sorted out or get left to get worse.
In and around Wokingham, Earley and Winnersh, we see the same pattern every year: gardens that get proper autumn attention sail through winter and green up quickly in spring, while gardens that are left to their own devices end up with moss-covered lawns, gutters overflowing down the brickwork, and storm damage that could have been prevented with a bit of preparation.
This checklist runs through what to do and roughly when, from early autumn through to the first frosts. If any of it feels like more than you want to take on yourself, we offer autumn garden maintenance, leaf clearance and gutter cleaning across Wokingham, Earley, Arborfield, Spencers Wood, Sindlesham, Farley Hill, Bracknell and Winnersh - call 07769315849.
September: lawn care season
September, while the soil is still warm and there's usually enough rain, is the single best month for lawn renovation. This is the time to scarify (rake out thatch and moss), aerate compacted areas, overseed bare or thin patches, and apply an autumn lawn feed that's higher in potassium and lower in nitrogen - this toughens the grass up for winter rather than pushing soft, lush growth that's vulnerable to disease and frost damage.
If your lawn has struggled with moss or bare patches over summer, this is also the window to deal with it properly rather than waiting until spring, when the growing conditions aren't as favourable for seed to establish. See our separate guide on removing moss from a lawn for more detail on that specific problem.
September-October: hedges and shrubs
Most informal and formal hedges get their final trim of the year in late August to September, once bird nesting season is safely over and before growth slows for winter. This tidies them up for the colder months and means they go into winter at a manageable size rather than putting extra weight and wind resistance on branches through storm season.
It's also a good time to cut back perennials that have finished flowering and are looking straggly, though it's worth leaving some seed heads and hollow stems standing over winter, as they provide food and shelter for insects and birds.
October-November: leaf clearance
Leaf fall really picks up through October and into November, and letting leaves sit on the lawn for more than a week or two blocks light and airflow to the grass, encouraging moss and fungal problems like snow mould over winter. Regular clearance - weekly or fortnightly depending on how many trees you've got nearby - keeps the lawn healthier and stops leaves washing into drains and gutters.
Leaves aren't just a lawn problem either: they build up in flower beds (which is fine in moderation and can be left as a mulch), but they also collect against fences, in corners, and critically in gutters, which brings us to the next job.
October-November: gutters, fascias and soffits
Autumn is when gutters take the most punishment, as leaf fall combines with increasing rainfall to clog downpipes and overflow gutters just when you need them working hardest. A blocked gutter overflowing down the brickwork for a whole winter can lead to damp problems, and in cold snaps, water sitting in a blocked gutter can freeze and cause it to crack or pull away from the fascia.
It's worth having gutters cleared once the bulk of the leaf fall from nearby trees has finished - usually November - rather than doing it too early and having them clog again a few weeks later. While you're up there (or having someone else up there), a check of the fascias and soffits for peeling paint, rot or loose sections is worth doing too, since problems are much cheaper to fix before winter than after.
November: fences, gates and hard landscaping
Storm season really begins in autumn, so November is a sensible time to check fence panels and posts for movement, rot at the base, or loose fixings, and to make any repairs before the worst of the winter winds arrive. A fence panel that's slightly loose in September can come down completely in a February gale, so catching it early is worth the effort.
It's also worth giving driveways and patios a clean before winter, since algae and moss both get worse in the damp, low-light conditions of winter and become a slip hazard. A clean, well-maintained surface also drains better, reducing the risk of ice forming on standing water.
Protecting pots, borders and vulnerable plants
Terracotta and other porous pots can crack if they're left full of wet compost through a hard frost, so it's worth raising them off the ground on pot feet to improve drainage, or moving vulnerable pots into a more sheltered spot. Tender plants that won't survive a UK winter outdoors should be brought into a greenhouse, porch or garage before the first frosts, which can arrive anywhere from late October in Berkshire depending on the year.
Mulching borders with well-rotted compost or bark in autumn helps protect plant roots from frost, suppresses winter weed growth, and improves soil structure ready for spring - it's one of the most useful, low-effort jobs on this whole list.
Preparing for storms
Autumn and winter bring the UK's stormiest weather, and a bit of preparation reduces the chance of significant damage. Check trees for dead or weak branches that could come down in high winds, secure or store garden furniture and trampolines, and make sure shed and greenhouse doors are secure. If a storm does cause damage, our separate guide on storm damage garden clean-up covers what to do next.
Typical autumn maintenance costs
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Lawn scarify + overseed (average garden) | £80 - £180 |
| Leaf clearance (per visit) | £40 - £90 |
| Gutter cleaning (semi-detached house) | £60 - £110 |
| Full autumn tidy-up (lawn, hedges, beds, leaves) | £150 - £350 |
A simple month-by-month summary
- September: scarify, aerate, overseed, autumn feed the lawn; final hedge trim
- October: start regular leaf clearance; cut back finished perennials
- November: clear gutters and check fascias/soffits; check fences and gates; clean driveways/patios
- Ongoing: mulch borders, protect pots, bring in tender plants, prepare for storms
Frequently asked questions
- What is the most important autumn garden job?
- Lawn scarifying and overseeding in September tends to have the biggest impact on how the garden looks the following spring, closely followed by keeping gutters clear before winter storms.
- When should I stop mowing my lawn in autumn?
- Usually once growth slows in November, raising the cutting height for the last few cuts of the season. Exact timing depends on the weather that year.
- How often should leaves be cleared in autumn?
- Weekly to fortnightly during peak leaf fall (October-November) is usually enough to stop them smothering the lawn or blocking drains.
- Should I clean my gutters before or after all the leaves have fallen?
- Generally after the bulk of the fall has finished, usually November, so you're not clearing them twice.
- Can I still do garden work through winter in Berkshire?
- Yes - hedge renovation, fencing repairs and hard landscaping can all be done through winter when the ground isn't frozen or waterlogged.