Autumn….… bulb planting time! Daffodils, tulips,crocus, hyacinths – all things bright and beautiful to look forward to next year. I like to plant big tubs of the same variety of tulips for maximum impact. One of my favourites is ‘Abba’ a scarlet red double flowered variety, gorgeous!
I’ve now planted up my hanging baskets with trailing pansies, cyclamen and ivy. Autumn planted pansies look good until midwinter, when they don’t flower as much, but will survive, if you give them a feed in February they will put on a bright show again for the spring/early summer. Other options are, violas, polyanthus, winter flowering heathers - erica carnea ‘Springwood White’ is a trailing and vigorous variety. I’ve used heucheras in baskets before too, lovely for all year round foliage and in lots of colours.
Cannas and dahlias can be lifted and stored once they have been blackened by the first frosts. Climbing roses can be pruned, the perennials in the borders tidied up. Indoors you can reduce the watering of houseplants.
Lawns can be scarified now, this is a very beneficial process to remove some of the thatch, a layer within the grass which prevents air, water and nutrients reaching the roots, well worth doing if you have a poor looking lawn. You can hire a machine to do it, but be careful – you still want to have a greenish lawn when you’ve finished, they can be powerful. A spring tine rake can be used for smaller areas, but this won’t be as effective.
Evergreens and small conifers can be moved, shrubs, perennials and trees planted, if you would like a new hedge, now is the time to start digging. You will soon be able to buy bare root plants which are much cheaper.
Take time to appreciate the changing colours of autumn, go walking in the woods and enjoy the rustle of leaves underfoot. In your garden you can also have the added joy of raking them from your lawn, which is always good exercise!
Sally Bishton Garden Design – creating gorgeous gardens in Dorset.
www.sallybishton.com
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