Gardeners are being urged to plant five flowers before the end of August to ensure a glorious display of autumn colour. Gardening expert Jane Fairlie, who has partnered with Redrow, has identified five plants that will provide vibrant colour in the coming months. The plants come in a variety of colours, allowing gardeners to choose what suits their garden best. Planting now also gives new plants time to establish before the risk of cold weather and frost arrives.
Low-Maintenance Options
According to the expert, these plants are low-maintenance and require little care beyond watering and deadheading. Among the recommended plants are primroses and polyanthus, which are herbaceous perennials that can be grown in full sun or partial shade. Jane advised: "Primroses and polyanthus are herbaceous perennials which can be grown in full sun or partial shade, in a variety of situations. They need moist, fertile soil which drains well, so if the soil is heavy in the garden, consider planting them into containers or raised beds where compost can be used instead."
For anyone planting now, Jane recommended doing so in late August or early September, as this gives plants time to establish their roots before cooler weather arrives. She added: "In spring, the flowers are bright and colourful, with shades of yellow, red, purple, white and even variegated. Remove dead flowers to promote continual flowering throughout the seasons."
Bellis Daisies and Pansies
For a low-maintenance option, the expert recommended bellis daisies, which provide structure through autumn before flowering in spring. Jane said: "Bellis daisies are evergreen perennial plants which can be grown in all well-drained soil types, in beds, borders and pots. Full sun or partial shade is ideal for these plants, which grow in clumps in autumn and flower in spring." Choose plug plants to help them establish quickly, and remove dead flowers during flowering to promote more flowers for longer. They can also be lifted, divided after flowering, and replanted elsewhere in the garden.
For "reliable" colour through the cold months, pansies and violas are a great option. Jane explained: "Pansies and violas are the more traditional autumn through to spring colour as they are very hardy and withstand cooler weather conditions." They can be planted in beds and borders, containers or hanging baskets, with trailing varieties also working well in baskets. She added: "They can be grown in hanging baskets, containers or in beds and borders for winter-long colour due to excellent winter hardiness." To keep the flowers growing, it's important to remove the dead blooms to encourage new ones. For all three options, the gardening expert recommended light watering during dry spells and removing dead flowers, which helps encourage further flowering.
