MODERN COUNTRY CLASSIC

Late-season interest

Follow these tips for extending the life of flowers and structures.

From May onwards, cut back plants as they go over, watering and feeding as you go, to ensure flowering into late autumn. Mulch with bark chips to retain moisture and suppress weeds. ‘Weeding is now a breeze, and we can walk on the beds without fear of compacting the soil,’ says Justin. Wide borders create a sense of depth and perspective and allow a longer season of interest. Temper bright colours with a lavish use of ornamental grasses. Choose plants with a good structure and seedheads that will add interest well into winter. Embrace both subdued and bright flower colours, which are beautifully accentuated by the clear, strong light of autumn. Native plants, such as willow and hawthorn, help to anchor cultivars introduced from overseas by plant hunters. Create an interesting frame around bright borders by mowing grass at different levels to add layers of interest.