Garden journal
With foliage on the turn and jewel-like berries glistening in the soft light, autumn is the time to enjoy a crescendo of colours in the garden
The latest products for your garden, and horticultural advice
Clockwise from far left: A perfect Platanus x hispanica, plane tree, leaf flutters to the ground; Pyracantha coccinea
‘Red Column’ is an ideal shrub to train on a fence or, as here, over an arch, as it is tough, hardy, reliable and has prolific, long-lasting berries; lilac asters and yellow Malus x zumi ‘Golden Hornet’ make such a pretty combination for autumn; graceful compact varieties of Acer palmatum are lovely in small gardens and are suitable also for containers; varieties of cut-leaved Japanese maples, Acer
palmatum ‘Dissectum’, come in a range of mellow to vibrant hues; pergola arches adorned with ripened apples at the elegant gardens of the Lake House in Hampshire, which opens by arrangement in autumn through the National Gardens Scheme
Autumn sees deciduous trees and shrubs shed a fluttering cascade of leaves, forming a carpet underfoot of crimson, russet and bronze in a kaleidoscope tapestry. Plants slowly shut down for winter, and the rhythm of the garden takes on a mellow beat. Cold, clear nights brighten into sunny days, with shafts of slanting light intensifying and illuminating nature’s hues of rich tones from colouring foliage, berries and the last blooms of the perennials.
Change in leaf colour is one of nature’s most stunning evolutionary tricks, a beautiful phenomenon caused by deciduous plants slowing their metabolism. The chlorophyll content of leaves aids photosynthesis and keeps them green through spring and summer, before the shorter days and cooler temperatures trigger a gradual reduction in chlorophyll production within the leaves, ceasing to mask the other colour pigments present in the foliage. The plants prepare for winter when they will rest and live off the food they stored during summer. Plants use this time to recycle nutrients from the foliage and deposit hard-toeliminate waste products inside the leaves before they are finally shed. We can just admire the beauty while the science takes care of itself.
Branching out
People sometimes underestimate the role trees and shrubs play in a garden, for both their visual contribution and their boon for wildlife. There is such a wealth of possibilities for including a mix of evergreens and deciduous options, with flowers, foliage colours, berries and bark highlights. Whether serving as a backdrop for annuals, bulbs and perennials that ebb and flow with the seasons, or combined for shape and form on their own, trees and shrubs bring drama, height, architectural interest and structure to a landscape.
Envisioning the mature height and spread of trees and shrubs, and how they relate to other plants, needs thought as you are planting your canvas for both now and the future. Look at the different shapes, both in the summer and the skeletal forms in winter if deciduous, the colour of foliage and bark or seasonal burst of flowers and berries. Decide if you’d like specimen accents, a feature tree planted in the lawn with groundcovers encircling it, copses or avenues, clipped hedging, pleaching or natural form.
Merry berry
Hardy fruiting plants also continue colour in the garden with their bright berries in golds, oranges, reds and pinks, hanging like mini baubles on stems or shining lanterns among evergreen foliage.
Autumn is an ideal time to plant trees and shrubs, including those that produce these jewel brights of autumn and winter. They will keep the life going in your garden by attracting a wide variety of fruit-eating birds and other wildlife. Black and red berries are dominant, probably evolving to be as conspicuous as possible to foraging birds in order to have their seed dispersed.
Most berry-producing trees and shrubs are easy to grow, don’t need much pruning and tolerate a range of soils and climatic conditions, including frost, wind and drought. There are choices for both large and small gardens, so it is worth doing a bit of research and visiting local garden centres to see what is on offer.
If you have a tiny garden, the best way to introduce berries may be to select ones that can be trained or espaliered against a wall or as a boundary hedge, such as pyracantha or cotoneaster, spindle, sloe or a climbing rose that produces hips. For a larger space, it is hard not to love the beauty of the spring flowers and autumn fruit of the crab apples; there are even small varieties for containers. Don’t overlook the evergreens, such as holly; you can clip them as topiary for the tiniest space.
Keep it contained
If you don’t have the space for adding trees and shrubs, you can still enjoy some autumnal beauty on a small scale by creating seasonal containers. By opting for plant choices that will last through winter, with the added surprise of early bulbs, you’ll have interest all the way to spring. You can also punctuate key areas in the garden as focal points, such as against winter evergreen structure or grouped by steps. Focus on combinations that add instant colour and hold their look for months.
Use frost-resistant containers; placing a plastic pot inside a terracotta pot avoids it cracking. Ensure that your pot has drainage holes and is large enough for your chosen plants. A visit to your local garden centre will offer all kinds of inspiration. Choose a centrepiece plant, then create a combination on the ground, painting a picture of colours and textures that appeals to you. ➤