How to prepare your garden in autumn: what to do now so that it comes to life in all its glory in spring
Dominika
Autumn is the time when the garden slowly settles down for a rest. How to prepare your garden for autumn? This is the time to take steps to ensure that your dream garden awakens in full force and beauty in the spring. If you want to have a minimum of work and maximum enjoyment in the spring, it is worth preparing the soil, plants, and lawn now.
Lawn care
The lawn is the calling card of every garden. In autumn, treat it to:
- scarification or aeration,
- fertilization with potassium-rich autumn fertilizer,
- thorough raking of leaves, which could otherwise cause mold growth.
If you are planning to create or modernize your garden, autumn is the ideal time to prepare the ground, install irrigation, or lay a lawn.
Caring for perennials and ornamental plants
Not all perennials are pruned in autumn. Proper care will help them survive the winter and promote growth in the spring.
Perennials that are suitable for pruning:
- peonies,
- delphiniums,
- phloxes,
- hostas,
- lilies.
Perennials that should not be pruned:
- ornamental grasses (e.g., pampas grass, fescue),
- lavender,
- echinacea,
- rudbeckia,
- sedum.
Leave these over the winter—their above-ground parts will protect the roots and also beautify the garden.
Harvesting and caring for fruit trees
If you have fruit trees, don’t forget to harvest the last of the crop and then remove any remaining fruit from the trees and the ground to prevent the spread of disease. It is also a good idea to spray preventively against pests.
Planting bulbs
Autumn is the time to plant spring bulbs – tulips, daffodils, and crocuses. In spring, they will reward you with an explosion of color.
Turnkey garden preparation
If you dream of opening your door in spring to find a ready-made turnkey garden waiting for you, autumn is the right time to start planning and implementing your project. Our company, Dream Garden, will help you with the complete implementation of your garden – from design and planting to the finishing touches.
Autumn garden care is an investment in the future. Every step you take now will be rewarded in spring with healthy plants, a lush lawn, and beautiful flowers.
If you want your garden to tell your story in the spring and bring you joy, we will be happy to help you – from consultation to complete implementation.
Myth vs. fact – trees are not planted in autumn
Dominika
Many people think that planting trees in autumn is inappropriate, and therefore prefer to avoid this season. However, the truth may be quite different. Let’s take a look at what is myth and what is fact when it comes to planting trees in autumn.
Myth: trees should not be planted in autumn
Many gardeners believe that planting trees in autumn is risky and can harm the plants. According to this view, trees should only be planted in spring to give them enough time to take root. However, this perspective overlooks the natural growth processes of trees and the opportunities that autumn offers when planning a custom outdoor space.
Fact: autumn can be ideal
Autumn actually offers many advantages, especially when carrying out a garden installation or planning a garden on a turnkey basis:
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Soil is still warm – even as the air cools, the soil retains warmth, which supports root growth.
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Less stress for the plant – lower temperatures and reduced water evaporation mean the tree experiences less stress.
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Greater water availability – autumn rains ensure the root system can establish well.
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Preparation for spring – a tree planted in autumn will be strong and ready for active growth in spring, giving your dream garden the perfect start.
When planning a turnkey exterior, autumn planting is often more practical and efficient, which is appreciated by anyone opting for a complete professional garden installation.
Tips for successful autumn planting
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Choose trees with a well-developed root ball.
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Plant them in a properly prepared hole with high-quality soil.
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Water regularly after planting, especially during dry weather.
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Mulching around the roots helps retain moisture and protects against sudden temperature changes.
Autumn tree planting is not a myth – it is a proven and often advantageous method when creating a turnkey garden. A properly prepared and planted tree has enough time to establish roots and can start growing vigorously in spring, gradually turning your dream garden into reality. If you want a professional garden installation in Žilina, Dream Garden can help you create a beautiful and functional turnkey exterior.
How to plant bulbs in layers: the "lasagna" effect for longer flowering
Dominika
Would you like your balcony or garden to be bursting with color for as long as possible? Try planting spring bulbs in layers this season—a technique known among gardeners as “lasagna planting.” Although the name may sound complicated, it is actually a simple planting method in which bulbs are placed in several layers on top of each other. The result is a beautifully blooming flower pot or flower bed that will bring you joy for months to come.
Why choose layered planting
Traditional bulb planting usually produces flowers at the same time of year. With the “lasagna” technique, plants alternate—when one finishes flowering, another takes its place. This makes the planting look livelier and lasts much longer. What’s more, even a complete beginner can easily master this technique.
Which bulbs are suitable
You can choose virtually any spring bulbs, but it is important to match them according to their flowering time. Great combinations include, for example:
- Tulips – they bloom later, so they are ideal for the bottom layer.
- Hyacinths or daffodils – suitable for the middle layer.
- Bluebells, irises, or anemones – early varieties that will brighten up the top layer.
Step-by-step procedure
- Choose a container – ideally a clay pot with a hole, which is more breathable than plastic and provides better insulation.
- Drainage layer – place gravel, expanded clay, or sand at the bottom to prevent water from accumulating around the bulbs.
- First layer – plant the deepest bulbs that bloom last (e.g., tulips) on top of about 10 cm of substrate. Place them close together.
- Second layer – add 5 cm of soil and plant other species that bloom earlier (e.g., hyacinths).
- Third layer – after another layer of soil, plant the earliest species (e.g., bluebells or anemones).
- Cover, water, and let them take root.
During winter, do not forget to water the substrate lightly (especially in January and February) so that the bulbs do not dry out. In severe frosts, wrap the container in burlap or cardboard.
You can use the same principle directly in the flower bed – this will create a colorful composition that will bloom gradually.
Tips for proven combinations
Colorful energy
- Bottom layer: Christmas Dream tulip
- Middle layer: Purple Sensation hyacinth
- Top layer: Atlantic Armenian crocus
Elegant white
- Bottom layer: Triumph Calgary tulip
- Middle layer: Carnegie hyacinth
- Top layer: White Splendour pasque flower
Planting bulbs in a lasagna style is a wonderful trick for enjoying a long spring full of color. And the best part is that it’s not rocket science. All you need is a suitable container, several types of bulbs, and a little creativity. You’ll be rewarded with a blooming balcony or garden that will delight you much longer than with traditional planting.
Flying stairs – an original feature that will transform your garden beyond recognition
Dominika
Modern garden design is no longer just about greenery and flowers. Today’s exteriors combine nature with architecture and unique elements that give the space character. One such element is our “flying” staircase – a design feature that transforms an ordinary garden into an architectural experience.
How the idea for flying stairs came about
Our journey with this unique solution began in Brodno, where we implemented our first project. It didn’t take long for this idea to gain enormous attention – we are currently continuing in Banská Bystrica, and we already know that flying stairs will soon become a feature of many turnkey gardens throughout Slovakia.
Why flying?
Their uniqueness lies in the optical effect – the stairs appear to float above the lawn or gravel path. We achieve this effect through a precise technical solution that is our internal know-how. The result is a functional and safe element that also has high aesthetic value.
Stone as a modern element in the garden
adds luxury and timelessness to the exterior, perfectly harmonizing with greenery and creating a feeling of connection with nature. We have already written about how stone can change the character of an entire space and what its advantages are in our blog article “Stone in the garden”, where you will find plenty of inspiration and tips on how to use it. Combined with modern elements such as LED lighting, stone can create a true dream garden in your yard.
Custom design
Each garden project is unique for us. We design flying stairs precisely according to the space, style, and requirements of the owner. We can integrate them between the terrace and garden path, by the pool, into sloping terrain, or as part of connecting different levels of the garden.
We are ready to implement them at your place
If you long for an original element that will transform your garden into a modern and attractive space, we will be happy to design and implement flying stairs at your home. Just contact us and we will prepare a solution for you that combines functionality, aesthetics and unmistakable style.
The power of time and the value of our work on the exterior in Trnové – a look back after 5 years
Dominika
Five years ago, we embarked on the creation of a garden in Trnové. It was a wonderful challenge – to transform an empty space into a green oasis of peace that would bring joy and relaxation to its owners. Today, five years later, we have returned here and are delighted to share the result with you.
How has the garden changed?
During the initial implementation, young trees and shrubs were planted and a lawn was laid. At that time, the garden was still in its infancy – it looked clean, but at the same time, it was clear that it would take time for it to reach its full beauty.
Today, the trees have strong crowns, the shrubs have grown, and the flowers create beautiful colorful corners. The garden has matured – it looks harmonious and natural, exactly as we planned when designing it. A look back after 5 years – the Trnové garden has confirmed that a high-quality design and careful implementation bring long-term value.
Why it is important to look back
Such returns are always a great pleasure for us. They show that a well-designed and implemented garden grows in beauty over time and increases the value of the owners’ investment. It is proof that our work does not end with planting – but that thoughtful design and proper care bring long-term effects.
Inspiration for you
If you are thinking about renovating or modernizing your own garden, this shot from Trnové is a beautiful example of how results do not come overnight – but patience always pays off.
Take a look at the photos from five years ago and the current shots – you’ll see what time and good garden design can do.
Stone in the garden: a timeless choice for garden design and turnkey exteriors
Dominika
Stone is one of the most popular natural materials in garden architecture and modern garden design. Whether you are planning to build a garden or dreaming of a turnkey garden, stone will bring durability, character, and unique aesthetics to your exterior.
Why choose stone for your garden?
- Natural beauty and originality: Each stone is unique in its shape, structure, and color, giving your exterior a timeless, one-of-a-kind look.
- Durability and minimal maintenance: Natural stone is resistant to weather conditions, lasts for decades, and is easy to maintain.
- Functionality: Stone is ideal for paved areas, walkways, flower bed edges, ponds, and retaining walls, but also as a stand-alone feature in a relaxation area or modern turnkey exterior.
Current trends in garden design 2025
Contemporary garden designs are based on simplicity, natural materials, and ecology. Stone combined with wood, greenery, and large-format paving creates a harmonious yet modern look for gardens. The emphasis is on sustainable solutions that require minimal maintenance while giving the space character and functionality.
Turnkey exteriors with an emphasis on detail
Turnkey garden and exterior services ensure that every detail (from stone paving and decorative gravel to stones for ponds) is not only aesthetic but also practical. An experienced garden designer will propose combinations according to your ideas, taste, and maintenance requirements.
Practical tips for using stone
- Sidewalks and paths – made of cobblestones or slabs
- Stone walls – for dividing the garden, supporting slopes, or decorative elements
- Rockeries, ponds, and dry streams – for a natural effect
- Flower bed borders and modern solitaires – aesthetics and practicality
- Facade cladding or terrace paving – connecting the house with the garden
Stone in the garden fits perfectly into any style – from traditional to Provencal to minimalist or industrial – and becomes the cornerstone of a lasting solution for any exterior.
Creating a garden with stone: why work with professionals?
Stand out, optimize maintenance and costs, and create a functional, tailor-made space – that’s what working with experts will bring you. An experienced team will prepare a garden design for you, recommend the right type and arrangement of stone, take care of the comprehensive implementation of a turnkey garden or exterior, and bring your vision to perfection.
How long does it take to build a garden on your own? And why do you love us when you come to us for a renovation?
Dominika
Building the garden of their dreams on their own is the dream of many homeowners and gardeners who want everything to be exactly as they imagine it while also saving money. At Dream Garden, we love it when our clients build their own gardens. Why? Because we know that after a while they often come to us with a request for a professional redesign or addition, and we are happy to help take their gardens to a whole new level.
How long does it take to create a garden on your own?
The time needed to create a garden on your own depends on many factors:
The size and complexity of the project
A smaller garden with a simple lawn and a few flower beds can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, while more extensive exteriors with a terrace, Hunter irrigation, drainage, and various features often require months to years of work.
The owner’s experience and time availability
If you have the basics of garden design and only have a few hours a week to spare, the implementation will take longer. It is often the case that people embark on such projects during the weekends.
Materials and technologies used
Laying a seeded lawn or implementing an extensive green roof requires time for rooting and growth. Complex irrigation systems and lighting require professional installation or at least professional consultation.
Why is it worth renovating with Dream Garden?
When you decide to renovate or add to your garden professionally, we offer:
Quality design and customised exterior
We use tools for planning and budgeting garden projects directly in Slovakia, guaranteeing that the result will be harmonious, functional and modern.
Optimization of care and maintenance
We will help you set up Hunter automated irrigation, proper lighting, drainage, and other solutions that reduce maintenance and increase the efficiency of your garden.
Pet-friendly exterior
We will design dog houses and other elements that will match the overall style of your garden and take care of your four-legged family member.
Green roofs and low-maintenance gardens
We advise on and implement green roofs, which are environmentally friendly and cost-effective, and low-maintenance gardens, ideal for the Slovak climate.
Your journey with a self-help garden doesn’t have to end there – it’s just the beginning!
We love it when our clients come to us, because then we can combine their personal efforts and hands with our professional experience. Because we not only design, but also carefully maintain and develop gardens so that they thrive for a long time and bring joy to the whole family. If you are planning to build a garden yourself, we can also support you later on. And if you want to plan or implement a professional exterior, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Custom exterior solutions also for your four-legged friends: dog kennels that match your garden style
Dominika
When designing a modern exterior, we consider not only aesthetics and functionality for the owners, but also the comfort of their four-legged friends. At Dream Garden, we believe that a turnkey garden should be a place where the whole family feels at home—including dogs, cats, and other pets. That’s why we build custom dog houses that perfectly match your garden’s design and become a natural part of your tailored exterior. A dog house in your turnkey garden is a detail that enhances the overall impression while providing comfort for your pet.
Why Choose a Custom Dog House?
- Garden Design and Dog House in One Style:
A custom dog house in your turnkey garden will be tailored to match the architecture of your home, the style of your terrace, the type of wood used, or the color of your fence. Your exterior will remain harmonious and thoughtfully designed down to the last detail. - Quality and Comfort : We build dog houses from high-quality wood, which can be charred on request (using the shou sugi ban technique). This not only gives the house a unique look but also increases its resistance to weather, pests, and mold.
- Individual Solutions:
Every four-legged friend has different needs—size, ventilation, insulation, and placement in the garden. We design the dog house precisely according to your requirements and the needs of your dog or cat.
Charred Wood – Style and Protection in One
The technique of charring wood black is not just an aesthetic trend. Thanks to this process, the wood becomes naturally stabilized and more resistant to water, rot, and pests. In addition, a black dog house looks modern and luxurious, perfectly complementing both minimalist and natural gardens, and becomes a stylish feature of your custom-designed exterior.
Why Dream Garden?
- Turnkey Garden Implementation:
We take care of everything from design to the complete realization of your garden and exterior—including details like a custom dog house, Hunter irrigation, lighting, or establishing a seeded or sod lawn. You can find more of our services on our website. - Personal and Professional Approach:
Every project is both a challenge and a joy for us—we are happy to advise, design, and deliver a solution that will suit you and your four-legged friends.
Do you want your garden to be beautiful, functional, and welcoming for your pets as well? Contact Dream Garden and let us design a custom exterior for you, including a stylish, durable dog house that perfectly matches your space. With us, your turnkey garden will be a place where every member of the family—including those with four paws—feels at home!
Feather grass - a delicate grass that brings life to any garden
Dominika
If you dream of a turnkey garden that looks light, natural and modern at the same time, the ornamental grass Stipa tenuissima is the ideal choice. Its delicate stalks sway gracefully in the wind, bringing movement and elegance to your outdoor space. That is why it is increasingly becoming a part of contemporary garden design, whether in a minimalist urban space or a spacious natural plot.
Why include feather grass in your garden design?
Stipa tenuissima, also known as feather grass, stands out for its undemanding nature and ability to adapt to various conditions. Thanks to its delicate appearance, it combines well with perennials, modern flower beds and other grasses. At Dream Garden, we often recommend it to clients who want a turnkey garden with minimal maintenance and maximum aesthetic effect. This grass creates the impression of a golden veil that changes with every breeze and gives the space a unique atmosphere.
Where to plant feather grass and how to care for it?
It thrives best in sunny, well-drained areas where its natural growth can flourish. It is suitable for modern gardens, dry flower beds and larger containers on the terrace. If you are planning a custom garden, be sure to consider combining feather grass with colourful perennials or other ornamental grasses. When planting a carpet or seeded lawn, it becomes a great addition that breaks up the monotony of the area and highlights the structure of the entire exterior.
Hunter irrigation – guaranteed beauty even in summer
To keep your garden beautiful all year round, it is important to think about irrigation. Hunter automatic irrigation systems, which Dream Garden installs as part of its turnkey garden projects, ensure that Stipa tenuissima and other plants always have enough moisture. Modern Hunter irrigation saves water, time and energy and is indispensable, especially when caring for carpet or sown lawns during hot summer days.
Revitalise your garden with Dream Garden
If you want a customised exterior that is not only beautiful but also functional and easy to maintain, contact Dream Garden. We will help you choose plants, design your garden, and take care of the implementation and installation of Hunter automatic irrigation. Your new green space will look natural, modern and comfortable – exactly as you imagined it.
5 reasons to invest in a Hunter automatic irrigation system
Dominika
Are you planning to build a garden, a turnkey garden or a complete turnkey exterior? One of the most important elements for a healthy and beautiful carpet or lawn is quality irrigation – especially during the hot summer months. Hunter automatic irrigation systems are a modern solution that saves time and water and guarantees perfect results. Read the 5 main reasons why it pays to invest in a Hunter system and find out how Dream Garden can provide you with complete implementation and regular service.
1. Healthy and thick lawn throughout the summer
Summer is the most demanding season for your lawn – high temperatures and lack of rainfall can cause it to dry out, turn yellow and thin. Hunter automatic irrigation systems ensure that your turf and seed lawn gets exactly the right amount of water at the right time. Regular and even watering is essential for a thick, green and healthy lawn without yellow patches and weeds.
2. Water savings and environmentally friendly operation
Hunter systems use intelligent sensors and programmable controls that optimize water consumption based on current weather conditions and soil type. This automatically turns off irrigation when it rains or when the soil is sufficiently moist, significantly saving water and money. Modern technologies enable efficient irrigation without waste, which is also important from an environmental point of view.
3. Convenience and time savings
With a Hunter automatic irrigation system, you no longer have to manually water your lawn with a hose or check that you have used the right amount of water. Watering takes place automatically according to a pre-set schedule, even when you are not at home or on vacation. This saves you dozens of hours a year, which you can spend relaxing in your turnkey garden.
4. Precision and flexibility for every turnkey exterior
Hunter offers a wide range of components and accessories that allow for precise irrigation settings for every type of garden, lawn, or flower bed. The system adapts to the size and layout of the property, the type of plants and the specific requirements of the customer. This makes it suitable for small gardens and large turnkey exteriors.
5. Reliability and long service life
Hunter irrigation systems are known for their quality, durability and long service life. The materials used in their manufacture are designed for long-term use in demanding conditions. The system requires minimal maintenance and, if necessary, individual components can be easily replaced or expanded.
The importance of irrigation for a healthy lawn in summer
During the summer, lawns need up to 30-40 liters of water per m² per week, and natural rainfall is often insufficient. Lack of water leads to weakening of the lawn, yellowing and the development of diseases. Hunter automatic irrigation ensures optimal moisture supply in the morning or at night, when water use is most efficient and evaporation is minimized.
Daily temperature °C Dose in mm Frequency of irrigation
36 and more 9 and more several time a day
31 – 35 8 – 9 5 – 6-time a week
26 – 30 6 – 7 4-times a week
21 – 25 4 – 5 3-times a week
15 – 20 2 – 3 2-times a week
Dream Garden will provide a Hunter system and regular servicing
If you are planning to create a garden, a turnkey garden or a turnkey exterior, Dream Garden will not only design and install a Hunter automatic irrigation system tailored to your property, but will also provide regular servicing and maintenance. This gives you the assurance that your system will always work reliably and that your carpet or sod lawn will remain in top condition all year round.