As summer draws to a close and our thoughts turn to the bulbs, berries and late blooms of autumn, here are some ideas to help you make the most of the harvest season.
1. Plant spring-flowering bulbs now
Giving daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses time to bed in before the colder weather improves the chances of a better showing come the warmer months. Lilies, alliums and crocosmia should also be planted before the end of September, while you can wait until November to get your tulip bulbs planted.
2. Choose autumn-flowering perennials
For a welcome touch of colour as the days get shorter and the trees start to lose their leaves, opt for autumn-flowering perennials – hardy fuchsias, the purple tassel-shaped flowers of Amaranthus, vibrant blue cornflowers, the delicate daisy-shaped flowers of cosmos, evergreen Daphne and purple verbena are all at their best in early autumn. There are packs of mixed everlasting perennials available, which can be a simple and cost-effective way of filling your borders.
3. Add some impact
Japanese anemone Honorine Jobert, chrysanthemum icy isle and chrysanthemum fire island are perfect if you’re after taller, high-impact flowers in the autumn.
4. Opt for dahlias
Dahlias can last well into the autumn, and their height and colour bring structure to your garden borders. There are huge numbers of varieties available, but some reliable favourites are the striking burgundy dark monarch, nuit d’ete with its spiky flower heads, the flaming orange of autumn lustre and the delicate pinks of café au lait.
5. Incorporate wildflowers
Wildflowers like ox-eye daisies, British red field poppy and yellow meadow maker are great additions to your garden and are very easy to grow. If you have an area you’re happy to leave wild, sow a pre-prepared seed mix in autumn, then leave the flowers to their own devices, and you’ll be amazed at the variety that will be on show by next spring.
6. Add ornamental grasses
Another way to ensure you’ve got texture, variety and interest in your garden is to plant ornamental grasses. Hardy, long lasting and surprisingly robust, try Chinese silver grass for swathes of silver tipped fronds, miscanthus sinensis red for marvellous colour or carex ice dance for sturdy, white-edged green stems.
7. Include striking foliage
Shrubs and trees with strikingly coloured foliage can also be a relatively easy way to maintain colour through the autumn. Acer japonica and acer palmatum orange dream both provide a riot of russet autumnal shades, and euonymus alatus burning bush has the most amazing purple-red leaves.
8. Choose berries
Berries are another way to bring sharp pops of colour into the garden in autumn. Rowan trees produce huge clusters of bright orange berries, which look great alongside the rosa geranium’s bright orange hips. Holly is another traditional choice, and the sharpness of the variegated leaves contrasting with the vibrant red berries enhances any garden border.
9. Think about vegetables
Autumn is the perfect time to get next year’s potatoes started, and you should plant garlic and onions now. Leeks, kale and Brussels sprouts can all go in the ground now too, ready for early winter harvesting.
10. Plant salad leaves for Christmas
Some of the hardier salad leaves like chard, mizuna, mustard and rocket can be planted now and will give you fresh produce in the run up to Christmas. You’ll need to protect them from any hard frosts, so a cold frame, greenhouse or a cloche-covered area are required.
Follow these tips and you’ll be able to enjoy your garden plants throughout the autumn and winter seasons.
