Gardeners have been urged to get planting before October, with experts saying autumn is traditionally one of the best times to put new plants in the ground. The soil is still warm enough to help plants establish before winter, according to gardening experts.
Why autumn is the ideal planting time
David Mitchell, head of plants at Blue Diamond, said September and autumn remain an important period for gardeners looking to carry out structural planting and prepare their gardens for the following year.
Speaking about the jobs gardeners should complete before the end of September, he said: "Autumn was traditionally the planting time." He advised gardeners looking to plant a hedge or make other structural changes to their gardens to take advantage of the season.
"Get some autumn colour in, get your formative planting in for next year and your bulbs in the ground," he said. Mitchell added that gardeners could still plant vegetables for winter, while bulbs such as daffodils and tulips can be planted during the autumn months.
Experts agree on favourable conditions
Phoebe Cater, a plant buyer at Blue Diamond, agreed that autumn provides favourable conditions for planting. "Autumn is traditionally actually the time for planting, and the soil's still warm enough," she said. "It's not too dry, it's not too freezing cold. It's the perfect time."
Roses were among the plants she highlighted as being suitable for autumn planting. "Whilst they may not look like much in the autumn, it's a fantastic time to plant them in the ground," Cater said.
Growing interest in drought-tolerant plants
The advice comes after a difficult summer for many gardeners, with prolonged dry and hot conditions prompting some people to reconsider the plants they choose for their gardens. According to the experts, there has been growing interest in drought-tolerant and low-maintenance plants, including yuccas, palms, salvias and catmint.
Mitchell said gardeners were increasingly looking for plants that could cope with drier conditions, while Cater said customers were "investing more in the future rather than just thinking and reacting".
However, the experts stressed that gardeners should not assume a plant can be left entirely to fend for itself immediately after being planted. Mitchell said even drought-tolerant plants such as olive trees need time to establish. He advised gardeners to get plants into the ground where possible, rather than leaving them in pots, and to give them a season to develop their roots.
Other autumn jobs and next steps
For those preparing their gardens for next year, planting is not the only autumn job worth considering. Gardeners can also cut back perennials while some late-flowering plants are still producing blooms, while attention can be given to garden wildlife as berries on hedges begin to dwindle.
The experts also recommended considering mulch, with Mitchell saying there could be a "massive difference" between areas that have been mulched and those that have not. A suitable mulch can help suppress weeds while allowing moisture to reach the soil, and organic matter can also improve soil quality.
With autumn now under way, gardeners have a limited window to get new plants established before the colder months arrive. For anyone planning ahead, experts say getting plants into the ground during autumn can help lay the foundations for a colourful and productive garden next year.
