Garden plants 'won't survive the winter' if you make 1 mistake this month

September has arrived, and if you're a keen gardener, you'll know that there's still some work to be done when it comes to protecting our outdoor spaces. It won't be long before the weather truly turns, so protecting the plants is crucial before this change kicks in.

It's been a very hot summer for many of us, and your garden will likely have suffered. And although it feels like autumn has already begun, what we're actually experiencing is 'false autumn'. This is a survival tactic from trees and plants pushed to the limit by this summer's record-breaking heat.

Extreme conditions can make plants behave as if the season has changed, even while it is still officially summer. With astronomical autumn officially beginning on September 22, experts say that time is running out to reverse the damage.

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."

Why is 'false autumn' dangerous for your garden?

According to the gardening experts at the Met Office, record-breaking temperatures and prolonged dry spells that we saw during the summer has stressed out the UK's plants and trees.

Because of this, they're shedding leaves and fruit ahead of schedule in an attempt to survive.

Dry weather has left the ground very thirsty, and this increase in temperature is having a 'significant impact' not only on the weather but on our plants too.

When it's very hot and dry, trees enter this survival mode to ready themselves for the future. They haven't died, but they aren't as healthy as they could be.

Three jobs to protect your plants

There are a few things that gardeners should do before autumn's official arrival on September 22, that can help to protect the plants and trees. One of these is mulching - applying bark or wood chips around plant bases to lock in moisture and restore the soil's sponge-like texture.

Gardeners should also water deep into the ground, using a watering can or drip hose for slow, targeted watering so moisture reaches the roots beneath the compacted surface.

Finally, applying a liquid fertiliser can give plants the energy they need to recover and build strength before winter.