It looks as though our very brief Indian summer is now well and truly over and we’re back to traditional autumn weather!  I think all the falling leaves look lovely but it’s important to keep on top of raking them off the lawn before they turn to mulch.  I always leave fallen leaves on flower beds as they make fantastic food for worms. 

However, I suggest that you take a leaf out of my book (excuse the pun!) and watch out for dead leaves building up on the surface of your garden pond – if you have a large pond it’s well worth investing in some netting to stretch over the top to catch the leaves.

If you’re lucky enough to have fruit trees in your garden, hopefully you’ll be enjoying a bumper crop as this year seems to have suited apple trees in particular.  Make sure you pick as many apples as you can before they’re dislodged by the wind; any that do fall can be left for the blackbirds and thrushes to enjoy!
Anyway, try not to worry too much about the odd dead leaf - autumn is a time to enjoy the beauty of the garden before winter sets in and an opportunity for gardeners to relax after the hard work of the summer – enjoy!