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Autumn is a beautiful season, isn’t it? As the leaves change colour, so too does our garden. The flowers slowly fade and perennials dieback. This is the trigger to start thinking about what to plant to ensure our garden thrives when spring returns.
But don’t worry, this isn’t a daunting task.
In fact, it’s an exciting opportunity to plan for the future, to prepare your garden to be a blossoming haven for nature and flowers.
So, let’s dive into it and discuss what to plant in autumn to create a sustainable flower garden that aligns with the changing seasons and supports the local ecosystem.
Three questions. Two minutes. A flower list chosen for your actual garden, not some idealised one.
Let’s find your flowers.
The benefits of autumn gardening
Let’s be real, autumn can be a tricky time for sowing seeds. The days are getting shorter and colder, and any seed sowing adventure might feel like a bit of a lost cause. Sure, you can add extra heat and light, but that doesn’t feel very sustainable or in tune with the seasons. And let’s face it, why make life harder when it doesn’t need to be? Spring will be here before we know it, and that is when it is a perfect time for seed sowing.
That said, autumn is a fantastic time for planting.
The soil is still nice and warm, helping your new plants feel right at home before winter kicks in. And let’s not forget the helping hand from Mother Nature, ensuring your plants get plenty of water during the winter months, without much effort from you. So, roll up those sleeves and get those perennials and shrubs in the ground.
Personally, I think autumn planting is better than spring, as long as the plant is healthy. Just be cautious with weaker plants as winter might be a bit tough for them to handle.
Plus, don’t forget, you can carry on with your bulb planting that you might’ve started in September.
Why sustainable practices matter in seasonal flower gardening
We, as guardians of our gardens, have a role to play in the broader environment. Our choices can help support local wildlife, reduce our carbon footprint, and create spaces of natural beauty. Sustainable gardening is about making choices that are kind to nature, and in return, nature rewards us with a flourishing garden.
For me, I take a gentle approach to my garden from late autumn through winter. Partly because the weather is likely not my cup of tea. So, on those rare dry days, I’ll cove any exposed ground with an inch layer of compost. Otherwise I’ll just leave everything as it is. I’ll keep the seed heads and dieback debris in place and let them cover the ground naturally. Come spring, I’ll clear it all away, ready for the new season.
In my small way, I am hoping that I am providing some food and shelter for any little beast that need to take refuge. I am still waiting to find a hedgehog in my log and leaf piles; they still seem to evade me.
Understanding what to plant in autumn
Planting in harmony with the seasons ensures your garden is always vibrant and full of life. But what to plant in autumn?
This is a question that might be playing on the minds of many flower garden enthusiasts. Let’s delve into it.
Plant Narcissi
Narcissi, the true harbingers of spring, bring joy with their arrival! With hundreds of varieties, each with its unique charm, you’re sure to find one that captures your heart.
These tough little bulbs can be planted in September or October, while the soil is still warm. They’re pretty easy-going, loving the sun but also happy in light shade.
Their main colours are cheerful yellows, whites, and creams, with a range of additional cup colours including peach, pink, red, orange or green.
Whilst any bit of colour is welcome in spring, I urge you to choose a narcissi that is extraordinary rather than the mundane. There are so many sensational ones to pick, rather than the traditional, boring, standard yellow. Go on, find a new favourite!
If you want plenty of flowers without turning gardening into a second job, The Flower Files might be just what you need.
Plant Allium
Alliums are like the gift that keeps on giving! They provide a huge amount of gorgeousness in return for very little effort. They’re a joy to have in any garden. Once you’ve planted them, they keep coming back year after year, often in even greater numbers.
And the variety! You can choose from the perfectly round ‘purple sensation’, the uniquely striking ‘red mohican’, or the elegantly white ‘cowanii’. There’s something for everyone.
The seed heads are a big hit in my shop, I suspect because they can make great home decor and stunning natural Christmas decorations.
If you’re looking for a long-lasting display in your garden, or if you love using cut flowers, you can strategically choose your allium varieties to enjoy blooms for longer. In my garden, the ‘purple sensation’ kicks things off in mid-May, followed by ‘Atropurpureum’ in June, and finally, the incredibly versatile drumstick heads of ‘Sphaerocephalon’ wrap up the show in July.
Plant Perennials & Shrubs
Perennials can be your flower garden’s best friends! They add structure and colour year after year – a win-win if you’d like to cut back on sowing seeds. Unlike annuals, perennials and shrubs stick around, greeting you with their beauty every year. And guess what? Autumn is their perfect planting time.
Autumn also invites you to try planting bare-rooted plants, like roses. They’re more pocket-friendly to buy, which is always a bonus.
If you wanted to move any existing perennials or shrubs, then autumn is also a great time to do this. With the soil still warm and the likely showers, your plants will find it easier to settle in their new home.
Hardy Annuals
Hardy annuals are the backbone of a cutting garden and provide colour through the summer season. Early autumn is the time to plant out any that you sowed in late summer into the garden. This is covered in more detail in this post.
The unique charms of autumn gardening
As the seasons slow down, the available time left to plant while the soil is still warm is running out. But remember, the end of one season is just the beginning of another. In the wise words of Audrey Hepburn,
“Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow.”
Audrey Hepburn
So, let’s continue to embrace sustainable gardening practices beyond autumn and look forward to the blooms of tomorrow.
A quick aside: I built a little app for flower growers who want gentle reminders about what to do and when - without it turning into another thing to feel guilty about. It's called the Flower Grower Companion. You tell it your location and your flowers, it tells you what actually needs doing this week (and just as importantly, when there's nothing to do at all)
Have a look
