EVERYTHING IS AUTUMN
DON’T LET THE WET WEATHER DAMPEN THE SPIRITS... NOT WHEN YOU CAN MARVEL AT THE GLORY OF AUTUMN AND CAPTURE ITS COLOURS FOR YOURSELFRSELF
RUSSET hues and earthy tones are taking over again, with the crunch – or squelch – of leaves underfoot. And you can bring glorious autumn colours of fiery reds, yellows and oranges to your own garden, balcony or patio. Here’s how...
TURN A NEW LEAF
WHY do leaves turn orange and why do they fall? As the days get shorter, the length of daylight and temperature the plant has access to changes, so the leaves stop their process of making food.
The orange and yellow pigments become more visible because the chlorophyll breaks down, so their green colour disappears.
Deciduous plants shed the part of the plant that they no longer need to survive autumn and winter.
Trees and shrubs drop their leaves because the vessels that carry the water and nutrients to the rest of the plant are closed off and a new layer forms that separates the leaf from the tree, which means it falls.
Hence the autumn term “fall”.
AUTUMNAL TONES
YOU don’t need a Japanese-style garden to have a Japanese maple.
In fact, they are perfect for any size space and can be grown in containers too. They will grace your garden or outdoor area with their lobed leaves that have green, orange, red and even purple tones, putting on a spectacular show throughout the year.
Acer palmatums like to grow in a slightly shaded spot with fertile soil.
‘Katsura’ is a hardy pick that begins with pink and orange leaves in spring, and goes green in summer, followed by orange in autumn.
For more dramatic colour, ‘Dissectum’ will provide fiery tones of red, orange and yellow.
A sheltered and partially shaded spot will serve up the best colour from this Acer’s deeply cut leaves.
BERRIES AND CHERRIES
THIS time of year is best to plant fruit trees and bushes such as redcurrants, gooseberries and raspberries.
But among my favourites are blueberries, which need to be planted in a sheltered position with acidic soil.
However, if you don’t have acidic soil, they can be grown in containers using Miracle-Gro
Premium azalea, camellia and rhododendron ericaceous compost.
Either plant them separately or mix in borders as they make nice ornamental plants as well as producing delicious berries.
They provide flowers in spring, fruit in summer and a lovely foliage come autumn.
Another tree for the garden for autumn colour is Prunus ‘Accolade’, ornamental cherry, which can grow up to 8m tall.
This hardy beauty has orange and red autumn foliage and, in spring, stunning light-pink flowers bloom.
Prunus serrula, Tibetan cherry, is a round-headed tree that has amazing copper-coloured and textured bark, and white flowers in spring.
In autumn, the narrow leaves are yellow, so it will, without do doubt, bring inte interest to your garden.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
ONE ofm of my favourite plant names is Liquidambar styraciflua, sweet gum. This tree is slightly conical in shape and nd is adorned with maple-like leaves aves that are orange, scarlet red and purple in autumn. umn.
It isn’t fussy with h the position it’s grown in,as long as there is sufficient sun and lime-free soil.
Another interestingly named plant is cotinus, known as the smoke tree.
It is a large shrub b that has green leaves in n spring and summer that become a gorgeous red and gold through autumn.
Not only is their foliage appealing, but in summer, pink and feathery inflorescences bloom that add even more texture.
This makes them a great addition to an architectural garden.
CREEPING COLOUR
IT IS not just shrubs and trees that can provide autu autumnal tones though. Bo Boston ivy is a great pi pick to adorn your h home or fenc fences, and it wi will give the b best autumnal c colour if p positioned in partial or full shade. This large c climber has th three-lobed leav leaves that are green throughout the spr spring and summer b but, come