Autumn is the best season for planting … bulbs, trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, vegetables and roses.
Plant shade: As the autumn season gets underway, its time to plan for garden renovations and new garden planting. Now that air temperature is finally falling, consider planting a shade tree to keep you cool next summer. Good shade trees include frangipani, tibouchina, maple, robinia, crabapple.
Hedges: Clumping bamboo make fabulous privacy hedges between neighbours. We like Khasia bamboo, Nepalese blue Bamboo and Oldhamii. Clumping varieties don't run through the garden, preferring to clump up into areas rather than run. Bamboo prefer a little shade rather than hot summer sun.
Bulbs: Time to buy bulbs for planting in April. Choose from tulips, daffodils, jonquils, freesias, hyacinths, ixias, babiana, lachenalia, ranunculus, anemones and snowdrops.
Sow sweet peas anytime March, April and May.
Autumn seedings for potted colour include alyssum, viola, pansy, primula, marigold, poppy 'Matilda' and 'Gallipoli', lobelia.
Bougainvilleas are making their fabulous late summer/autumn flush. Look for the dwarf 'Bambino' range.
Perennials: Perennials are tough hardy plants will fabulous flower and foliage display through summer and autumn, then go dormant through winter, grow back in spring ready to flower again in summer. Some are herbaceous i.e the roots are permanent but the top dies right back to the ground in winter. Some are evergreen ie the leaves remain green all year such as liriope, agapanthus and clivea.
Examples of tough perennials: Easter daisy (Perennial aster), penstemon, delphinium, Shasta daisy, rudbeckia, helenium, veronica, coreopsis, geum, campanula, Cranesbill geranium, cat mint (nepeta), acanthus, chrysanthemum, dianthus, salvia, wormwood (artemesia), teuchrium, sedum and lovely ornamental grasses such as miscanthus and poa.
Herbs: chives, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary and French tarragon.
Autumn foliage trees: Sapium (Chinese Tallowood), Ginkgo (Maiden hair Tree), Liquidambar ('Rotundiloba' really is the pick of the Liquidambars), Nyssa sylvatica (Tupelo), Claret Ash, Golden Ash, Pinnoak, Scarlet Oak, Ornamental Pear, Flowering Cherry, Dogwood, Gleditsia (Golden and Ruby), Japanese Maple, Lipstick Maple, Cercis 'Forest Pansy'.
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