With autumn simply across the nook, there couldn’t be a greater time to capitalise on the change of seasons.
Perhaps you’ve taken your foot off the gardening pedal – spending extra hours lounging amongst your flower beds than liberating them from weeds, and their floral appeal is likely to be beginning to fade.
However, just a few intelligent strikes now will brighten issues up and reward your backyard tenfold come springtime. Here’s what Marcus Eyles, horticultural director at Dobbies (dobbies.com), recommends you do to refresh your containers and borders this autumn…
Containers
Bright as a button, pansies carry a ray of sunshine (Alamy/PA)
Whether you could have a big backyard, compact patio or metropolis balcony, Eyles says it’s straightforward to offer your out of doors area an on the spot seasonal refresh with vibrant containers.
“Enhance your garden for the new season by refreshing pots and hanging baskets with plants like pansies, violas and wallflowers,” he says. “These beautiful flowers will last through winter and brighten up your garden with colour through the colder months – then burst into full bloom in the spring.”
He says the autumn flowering saffron crocus is a incredible selection for these trying so as to add color and curiosity to their containers, and this putting flower ought to be planted with a great high quality peat-free compost.
Plant snowdrops now and so they’ll reward you come springtime (Dobbies Garden Centres/PA)
“Spring flowering bulbs such as snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils and tulips should also be planted now for a colourful display that will start to bloom in early spring next year,” suggests Eyles.
To defend your container crops from the weather as we get into colder and windier months, he says to be sure you place pots close to your doorway – and this may even assist you to respect the crops up shut.
Beds and borders
Easy to develop and attention-grabbing, crocosmias (Dobbies Garden Centres/PA)
One of crucial seasons within the gardening world, early autumn is the perfect time to refresh your beds and borders – maybe by introducing some heat colors.
“Bring signature autumnal colours, such as ochre and orange, to your outdoor space by planting chrysanthemums, crocosmia and rudbeckia,” encourages Eyles.
“Seasonal plants like echinacea, anemone and hebe will bring in tones of purple, pink and white to really catch the eye – and create a showstopping display that will last you throughout the autumn.”
Meanwhile, he says decorative grasses and hydrangea flowers ought to be left on crops to guard them over the winter – plus, they appear nice laced with frost on a winter’s morning.
“Leaving your borders with foliage and flower stems will also encourage wildlife to thrive and give them a space to shelter during the colder months,” he says.
When working in your beds and borders in autumn, he suggests mulching properly with peat-free compost or Bloomin Amazing – an natural peat-free mulch – to make sure good soil well being, and assist preserve weeds at bay.
Ornamental timber and shrubs
Vibernum titus is among the hottest flowering shrubs (Alamy/PA)
Autumn can be a good time to take inventory of your backyard and have a look at its general appear and feel. If you’re undecided the place to start out or are in want of some inspiration, Eyles says decorative timber are the right approach so as to add top and curiosity.
“Evergreen shrubs like viburnum tinus and skimmia will add charming flowers and a wonderful fragrance and structure to your garden,” suggests Eyles. “They work well planted both in borders and containers.”
He continues: “These trees will complement shrubs such as acers, cotinus and parthenocissus climbers, which bring fiery shades of autumn foliage at this time of year.”
Source: www.impartial.co.uk
