Autumn can be seen as a wind-down season before winter, when flowers die back, leaving the garden looking bare, but, with a little planning and planting now you can add a burst of colour to your borders and containers to enjoy through the coming seasons.
Before you start any planting prepare your borders by nourishing your soil. Lightly dig it over, adding plenty of compost mixed with some bonemeal to give the soil a much-needed boost.
Autumn borders can be a dynamic display with a flow of different textures, shapes and colours.
When planting out your choices remember to put the taller plants at the back, then medium sized, down to the smaller varieties in the front. Add a few ornamental grasses to help add structure to the overall design, plus there are some stunning shrubs that will provide both colour and scent, which encourages wildlife to visit.
The Confetti bush (Coleonema) has green and gold foliage with gorgeous scented pink or white flowers from winter to early summer.
Camellia Japonica is a hardy evergreen shrub with beautiful rosette flowers of white, pink or red.
Leonotis Leonurus (wild dagga) is a brilliant, fast growing shrub with fabulous bright orange, white or salmon tubular flowers. Wildlife just love it, birds, bees and butterflies!
Popular Antirrhinums (Snapdragons) will bring masses of colour to a winter garden with their bright green foliage and wide choice of amazing coloured blooms.
The Strelitza (Crane flower) with its stand-out colours of orange edged with purple borders is an ideal plant is ideal for the back of borders, reaching a height of 1.5m.
Other reliable colourful perennials to plant are Penstemons, Salvias, Gazanias, African Daisies, Bokbaaiuggies, Lupins, Aquilegias, Echinaceas, Gautama and, of course, the sunny Calendulas! Dianthus, Violas, and Petunias are all low-growing plants that will brighten up containers and look great as edging for the front of flower borders.
onths!