Autumn can be a funny time in the garden. It’s often sunny enough that you still want to spend time outdoors, but chillier temperatures creeping in means many summer flowers have retreated for the season.
Rather than mourn for the passing summer, turn your garden into a cosy, welcoming space you’ll love spending time in or looking out onto this autumn. Gardeners Dream have a wide range of plants and everything to get you garden Autumn ready.
Flowers for Autumn Garden Colour
Sunflowers
Yes, you read that correctly! While we usually associate these tall blooms with sunshine, they flower in August and last for 8-12 weeks before fading. Sunflowers are incredibly easy to grow, and they’re the perfect flowers for bridging the gap between summer and autumn blooms.
Rudbeckia
These cheery yellow daisy-like flowers remain in place well into October. When the flowers do eventually fade, they are replaced with striking black seedheads that provide interest and food for birds during the winter months. Plant rudbeckias in full sun for a stunning display of flowers from late summer.
Chrysanthemums
If you’re looking for something a little more showy, you can’t go far wrong with chrysanthemums. Available in a variety of colours from deep autumnal reds to bright yellows, chrysanthemums bloom from September to November and are a welcome sight as other summer flowers start to die back. Chrysanthemums make excellent cut flowers, so you can even bring some of that autumn colour into the house.
Dahlias
Coming in an array of colours and flower sizes, dahlias reliably bloom from July through October. Like chrysanthemums, they are a great choice for cut flowers – and will even grow a new bloom each time a flower is cut!
Native to Central America, dahlias are tender plants that may not survive the frosty temperatures during the colder months. For this reason, it’s a good idea to bring them indoors or keep them in a frost-free shed or greenhouse for the winter.
Top Tip
Deadheading spent blooms is a great way to extend a plant’s flowering period, encouraging a second flourish of flowers later in the season.
Winter Flowering Violas
Violas may look dainty, but they are surprisingly hardy and flower all winter long, even through snow and frosty temperatures. They are available in a rainbow of colours – mix and match hues to suit the rest of your garden design. Violas are ideal for hanging baskets or container gardening, flowering from autumn all the way through to spring.
Top Tip
Autumn is the perfect time to plant your spring flowering bulbs. Daffodils, alliums and tulip bulbs should all get planted as the ground cools down between September and November. Aim to get them into the ground before the first frosts kick in, making the soil more difficult to work with.
Trees and Shrubs for Stunning Autumn Foliage
Acers
Also known as Japanese maples, acer trees are renowned for their stunning autumn colour. They are compact with a graceful growing habit and do well planted in pots and containers, making them perfect for even small gardens. In autumn, the palmate leaves turn vibrant shades of crimson, red, orange and gold that provide colour interest in any outdoor space.
Maidenhair Trees
These trees are perfect for brightening up the garden in autumn. From October to November, the green leaves turn a glorious shade of golden yellow, creating an eye-catching effect. Maidenhair trees are also known as ginkgo trees and produce the best foliage colour when planted in full sun.
Holly
Instantly recognisable, holly boasts glossy, spiny foliage that is often variegated. Female holly shrubs produce bright red berries from late autumn. These fruits last throughout the winter, add interest to shrubs and provide food for birds and small mammals. Holly is an evergreen plant that grows best and produces the most vivid colouring in full sun or partial shade.
Autumn Vegetable Plants
Spring Onion
Spring onions are a great addition to any vegetable patch. They are quick and easy to grow and produce a reliable crop throughout most of the year. They also don’t take up much space, so they are ideal for planting in a pot or container. This kind of onion has a fresh, sweet flavour that is delicious in salads, wraps, and stir-fries.
Carrot
Planting carrots in late spring or early summer results in a plentiful yield from the autumn garden. Carrots are versatile vegetables that can be used in almost any type of dish, from salads to soups and even cake! Leave harvested carrots to dry off in the sun for a day before storing them in a cool, dark place, and they should last for a couple of months.
Broad Bean
Broad beans are easy to grow and are a popular ingredient for risotto and pasta dishes. They are often served as a side dish to complement pork and lamb. Sow broad bean seeds in October or November to be ready by late spring, or plant in spring to harvest in late summer.
Salads
Land cress, kale, spinach, rocket and lettuce are all suitable to grow and harvest in autumn, so you don’t need to give up your summer salads just yet! Leafy greens can also be added to stews, casseroles and soups for hearty eating as the cold, dark evenings draw in.
Garden Decorations
Seasonal garden ideas don’t have to be limited to autumn plants. Use these tips as inspiration to add even more style to your autumn garden design, complementing your perennials, shrubs and trees.
Lighting
Fairy lights aren’t just for Christmas! Drape solar-powered outdoor string lights from branches and fences for a welcoming glow. Get creative with wall lights, using them to illuminate patio areas and place lanterns on tables for a cosy atmosphere. Choose warm white and yellow tones for a snug feel.
Wreaths
Again, wreaths are usually associated with the festive season. But autumnal wreaths have been gaining in popularity over the last few years. Hang the wreath from your front door, or get creative and place it on a tree trunk, pergola or even the garage wall.
Soft Furnishings
Decorating the garden with soft furnishings may sound a bit daft, but sitting on cold garden furniture isn’t particularly appealing. Add cushions and soft throws to your garden furniture to make sitting outside all the more comfortable, cosy and inviting. Just be sure to bring them indoors before the rain starts!
Bird Feeders
As the weather grows colder and frost begins to harden the ground, it becomes more difficult for birds to find food and shelter. A bird feeder or bird house can be an interesting decorative piece in the autumn garden while offering our feathered friends some help. Bear in mind that once you start feeding the birds, they’ll come to expect it. So, if you don’t carry on, they’ll waste precious energy searching your garden for food before moving on to find it elsewhere.
Autumn is a great time to get your garden ready for winter and start planning what you want to grow next year. But it is also a lovely time of year to relax in the garden, enjoy the sunsets and take in all the glorious autumn colour around you.