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Autumn Gardening
 This is always a busy time of year in the garden as it is when most of the pruning and tidying is required but this year more than ever there is a great deal of pruning to be done. The incredibly wet summer that we have had followed by a warm spell has encouraged many plants to put on lots of growth.
By pruning shrubs and perennials before the weather turns cold you will find that the small amount of re-growth you will get will give a much more natural look to the garden throughout the autumn and winter. Not only does pruning improve the appearance of many plants it also helps to prevent damage caused in winter from bad weather such as snow and wind. However, this does not apply to everything – if you have grasses in the garden their dead foliage can look stunning in autumn and early winter with dew and frost glistening in the morning sun.
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This July we completed our second RHS show garden which was a very challenging time of year due to adverse weather conditions. We still managed to achieve a hard earned Silver Gilt medal. One feature of the garden that the public loved come rain or shine was the water feature. A water blade formed a sheet of water which appeared from the front of the deck that overhung the pool and gave the garden a real sense of atmosphere. There is something magical about having water in the garden be it a pond or a water feature. Where ever possible in my garden designs I try and incorporate water, especially near seating areas on terraces, patios and decks, as the sound of water creates a calming ambience when you want to sit and unwind. It doesn’t matter whether you have a cottage garden, a modern minimalist or family garden there is a water feature that will be suitable. Most important for a family garden is that it is safe and therefore a pebble pool is the best option. Once again this doesn’t need to limit your choice as there are many diverse features to choose from such as a stainless steel pyramid or a large drilled monolith of natural stone. Whichever you choose a water feature will always add a unique element to your garden.
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Flowering Foliage
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HOSTAS – a vastly underrated plant with beautiful variegated leaves shaped like a heart or lance. This bold flowering foliage gives any garden a great lift and provides excellent cover. They can be planted as ground cover under deep rooted trees, in a mixed or herbaceous border, by deciduous trees and look particularly pleasing on the edge of a water feature.
Here are a few varieties to consider:
Blue Wedgewood a clump forming perennial with lance shaped grey blue leaves and bell shaped pale lavender blue flowers (mid Summer).
Emerald Tiara a vigorous plant forming a compact clump with broad lance/heart shaped leaves with a slight wavy green pattern. Flowering in mid Summer with violet flowers.
Little Caesar slightly smaller in stature, this fast growing perennial has lance shaped leaves with a creamy and green variation. Grows to a height of approximately 10 inches with lavender blue flowers.77 |
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Ideas?
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A great way to get ideas & inspiration for your garden is to visit one of the RHS shows. It's a great day out for anyone interested in their home and garden.
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