Keen gardeners work outdoors almost all year, and autumn is no exception. The more carefully you prepare plants, lawn, furniture and tools now, the less work there is in spring.
Autumn is often wet, with fog and early frosts, so aim to finish the main jobs before the hard freezes set in. Here is what to do, in order.
What you will need
Important: Treat rubber seals with silicone only: the multi-use product should not be used on rubber. Do not spray lubricants on plants or soil, and wipe excess off tools.
Step 1
Cut back plants
Start with pruning: green growth left over winter tends to rot. Remove dead and diseased wood and shoots that rub against each other and damage the bark.
Trim hedges with a hedge trimmer or saw and cut flowers with secateurs. Afterwards clean the sap off the blades and treat them with WD-40 Multi-Use to prevent rust.
Step 2
Clear leaves and keep mowing
Rake up fallen leaves regularly, or the lawn underneath will rot and bare patches will appear in spring. Put the leaves on the compost or use them as mulch.
Keep mowing until late October or November, depending on the weather, but not shorter than 5 cm: grass cut too short copes badly with cold, while grass left too long flattens and rots under snow.
Step 3
Plant bulbs and protect tender plants
Plant tulip, daffodil and crocus bulbs before the first frost, roughly by mid-November.
Cover tender plants that cannot come indoors with fleece or wrap them in jute, and mulch the soil around them with leaves or conifer branches. Remove the covers once the hard frosts are over so plants do not sweat.
Step 4
Check the seals
Inspect the rubber seals on house windows and doors, the greenhouse, the shed and pond or well covers. Rubber left outdoors all year hardens, cracks and lets the cold in.
Treat the seals with WD-40 Specialist Silicone: it keeps rubber supple and stops it freezing to the frame.
Step 5
Drain the water supply
Turn off and drain outdoor pipes, garden hoses and taps, and empty water butts: freezing water bursts pipes and containers.
Take out fountain and pond pumps, dry them and store them somewhere dry. Treat metal tap fittings and hose clips with WD-40 Multi-Use through the WD-40 Smart Straw so they open easily in spring.
Step 6
Protect garden furniture
Ideally store furniture in a dry shed, garage or cellar. If that is not possible, cover it with a waterproof tarpaulin.
Treat metal furniture, and the hinges, joints and sliding mechanisms of any furniture, with WD-40 Trigger Pro or WD-40 Multi-Use: spray, leave it to work and wipe off the excess. The film protects against moisture and rust until spring.
Step 7
Put tools away for winter
Clean soil and sap from spades, rakes, secateurs and shears, dry them and lubricate the metal parts and pivots with the same multi-use lubricant.
Store tools somewhere dry, ideally with covers over cutting edges. That way you will not need to replace rusty tools in spring.
Tip: Work on a dry day: wet leaves are heavy, lubricant bonds less well to damp metal, and seals should be clean and dry before treatment.
What next
Towards the end of autumn walk the garden again before the first snow and prepare it for winter. Check lubricated hinges, taps and tools once a month, especially after thaws.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».