THE CLUE IS
It may be murky out so now’s the time to cheer up your patch with autumnal hues
Our gardens can start to look a little tired now, but there is still much beauty around us with tree canopies turning russet, orange and yellow.
In my garden there’s a hazel shrub you might not notice most of the year, but right now it’s turning an eye-catching scarlet.
Koelreuteria, the Indian Golden Rain Tree, is also having a moment, putting on a brilliant display of orange-yellow leaves. The apple trees are also heavy with fruit and I harvested some ripe figs for this morning’s breakfast.
But the flower display is receding – perennials which have been all singing and dancing with colour since spring are starting to wind down.
Yes, there are penstemons, verbena and dahlias still bravely producing blossoms and I love the architectural seedheads of agapanthus and eryngium. But I also want some pops of fresh colour – I think we all need this to cheer us up in the coming months.
A visit to your local garden centre will surprise you as there is so much flower power available right now. It’s time to revamp your window boxes, hanging baskets, pots and containers and give them a fresh lease of life.
So what material can you use at this time of year? Hardy bedding plants will provide the most colour. Violas and pansies can really keep the show going with their happy face-like flowers and the range of petal colours is astonishing. It’s worth looking out for trailing varieties which look so pretty in hanging baskets.
Of course you may have been planning ahead and sown them from seed in June in which case they should be ready for planting out now.
Brightly coloured polyanthus, primulas and bellis perennis will also banish the blues – pack
PRETTY plants will make them look jolly until next spring. A top dressing of gravel can be a good finishing touch too.
As well as bedding, there’s a range of foliage plants which can enliven planting schemes. Heucheras have a beautiful range of colours, from deep purples, pinks, oranges and limey greens – and I love their ruffle-shaped leaves.
Evergreen sedges such as carex suit life in containers and make attractive focal points. ‘ Frosted Curls’ has striking silvery green foliage while ‘Bowles Golden’ has gold foliage that curves gracefully. There’s no reason to have bare pots in winter – containers are miniature gardens which can be planted to delight all year round. And this year, it’s never been more important to have nature close at hand.
PURPLE PATCH Ornamental cabbages are a fun way to make a statement in autumn