With the current levels of uncertainty, there is something very comforting about blazing autumn sunshine and the fiery colours of autumn.
A few years ago, I noticed a patch in the garden that caught the evening light in the winter months. It was the ideal spot for planting dogwoods that would light up this patch. Dogwoods (Cornus species) are not expensive and are extraordinarily robust: they can cope with heavy clay, water logging and life on chalk - provided they get some help in droughts on the latter. The varieties ‘Midwinter Fire’ and ‘Magic Flame’ should give you a clue as to what they will look like when everything around them is dark and dull! Part of being a Hampshire garden designer is keeping one’s eyes and ears open for opportunities to use colour in exciting ways.
If your garden does get waterlogged, then there are also a number of small willows that will happily thrive with wet feet and will reward you with vibrant stems. Salix alba ‘Erythroflexuosa’ and ‘Chermesina’ both fall into this category whilst there are small Acers for the more acidic, humus-rich soils that have almost fluorescent red and orange stems. If you need inspiration, then why not explore a few public gardens and arboretums? They often have the helpful policy of attaching plant names to their collections.
Jobs to do around the garden this month include:
• Lifting and dividing overgrown perennials that have lost their vigorous core.
• With the colder weather arriving, it is coming into the time when it is safe to lift and move trees and shrubs. Be careful not to allow the roots to dry out.
• Check tree ties and stakes in preparation for windy weather to come.
• Give your compost heap a good turning over. If the compost has rotted down well enough and has a high enough level of humus (the dark, nutrient rich essence that retains moisture and attracts trace elements), then autumn is a good time to spread it on the borders as a mulch.
• Rake the leaves off ornamental lawns to allow light and air to circulate and prevent patches of mildew developing.
• Aerating the lawn either with a dedicated tool or the good old method of jumping on a fork will improve drainage and so the health of the grass.
• Burn dead and diseased leaves and debris (if the neighbours are happy with this!). This basic garden hygiene will keep down the levels of blackspot and scab. Wait until November 5th if you need to!
• Keep as many leaves as possible off the pond and watch out for hungry herons who can puncture your pond liner when fishing: fake herons can be effective if you move them every month.
• Tulips can be planted out this and the next month: sometimes they are best displayed in pots and are certainly easier to weed, lift and protect like this.
How about showing off the autumn colours by picking some bright stems for a tabletop decoration? Why not collect bright leaves as part of a school project or just for the sheer fun of it? Get your camera or phone out and take some photos of some of the amazing contrasts and textures to make up some cards. Brighten up that corner of the garden that you can see from your house in winter by planting some dogwoods or small willows!
Put simply: spread the love…we need it more than ever now!