The summer may be over and harvest may have passed, but for the impassioned gardeners out there, the planting never stops – there are just as many hardy plants, from trees and shrubs to more winter-resistant flowers, that are perfect for keeping your garden looking a little bit vibrant as the days begin to get shorter and colder throughout autumn. Scroll down to find out all about the very best autumn and winter flowers that thrive in the cold, to keep your garden blooming…
Why does planting throughout autumn and winter matter?
According to Isobel Spandler, garden designer and founder of Wiltshire Garden Design, this season is a “key moment” in the gardening year. “Taking advantage of the still warm soil and increased rainfall after the dry months of summer makes establishing new planting much easier,” she says. “This head start will result in stronger, healthier growth in the spring, with plants that are more drought resistant and may flower early than if planted in the spring.”
© Getty Images/iStockphotoThere are lots of flowers that are great to plant in the colder seasons
Isobel also adds that perennial planting can even continue into the early winter, as long as your ground isn’t waterlogged or frozen. “Choosing winter flowering blooms will not only bring late season colour and interest into your garden but also provide a vital source of food for wintering insects and birds,” the garden designer adds.
What should you consider before planting these flowers?
As with any season, you need to make sure you’re being careful about the condition, type and pH level of your soil before you plant any flowers. However, there are also some types of plants that might be best to avoid, according to the gardening expert.
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“Avoid the temptation of end-of-season bedding plants,” Isobel explains. “They won’t last long, and may not thrive in colder conditions.”
What are the best flowers for a bit of colour in autumn?
There are a lot of gorgeous flowers to choose from if you’re hoping for some colour in autumn. “With regular deadheading, many will flower into November – only the first frosts will stop them,” the garden design expert adds. “Even then, resist cutting them back: seedheads from spent blooms and the structure of sedum add interest through the winter months.” Scroll down to see our pick of flowers to plant in autumn…
© Getty ImagesChrysanthemums
Is there a more classic and reliable autumn plant than the chrysanthemum? They come in many shapes, sizes and forms and are relatively easy to look after, often flowering year after year if you take enough care of them.
© Getty ImagesPansies and violas
Similar, though not quite the same – pansies and violas are both incredibly popular. All pansies are violas, but not all violas are pansies. Pansies have larger flowers with four upward-pointing petals, and are typically taller, while other violas are a little smaller.
© Getty ImagesJapanese anemones
Tall, slender and saucer-shaped, Japanese anemones are a rather distinctive-looking and robust perennial that is easy to grow, and has a tendency to spread.
© Getty ImagesHylotelephium, previously known as Sedum
As Isobel points out, the unique and stunning structure of the sedum plants, most commonly known as stonecrops, can add a little bit of textural intrigue to your garden.
What are the best flowers to plant in winter?
Autumn planting is one thing, and the temperatures can drop, but when the frost starts to hit in winter, then it’s a completely different story. Scroll down to see the expert picks for the flowers to plant in your garden this winter…
© Getty ImagesHellebores
A hardy beauty with handsome leaves that also thrives in shadier spots, hellebores have a long flowering period, lasting well into spring, with lovely, leathery evergreen leaves.
© Getty ImagesSnowdrops
Another winter favourite that Isobel says “pairs beautifully” with hellebores, snowdrops are another staple of the season, known for their sweet little bulb and sturdiness. Often, they’re one of the first plants to flower in the new year!
© Getty ImagesCyclamen
According to Isobel, cyclamen look especially “wonderful naturalised at the base of trees and can withstand the harshest weather”. When little else is flowering, they provide a gorgeous burst of colour through the blankets of snow.
© Getty ImagesWinter jasmine
A medium-sized shrub that provides bright yellow flowers in winter and early spring, the winter jasmine is another go-to if you want your winter garden looking a little more bold.
© Getty ImagesHart’s tongue fern
Isobel suggests going for some native evergreen ferns “for a more lush feel”, such as the hart’s tongue fern: it’s evergreen, it’s hardy, and its pretty leaves will leave you in love.
What are the best potted plants for balconies and small gardens?
If you want a little more colour indoors, then a houseplant might be a good option to keep on your balcony – or if you’ve got a smaller garden, then they’re perfect for fitting into a smaller space. Isobel advises: “Winter violets and pansies are cheerful and easy to maintain. Viola cornuta ‘Phantom’ is especially useful, highly scented and happy in partial shade.” She adds that some deadheading keeps them flowering, and they bounce back easily after a cold spell.
© Getty ImagesViola cornuta plant, known as horned pansy
Winter pollinators can struggle a bit when there isn’t as much flower, but fear not, as the gardening expert suggests heathers: “They’re an important early food source for them, and thrive in free-draining acid soils with a pH of 6.5 or less. Perfect for containers in a sunny spot.”
Expert tips for keeping blooms healthy in colder months
In order to keep your blooms healthy, the garden design expert says: “Most plants will benefit from a layer of mulch, to insulate roots, retain moisture, suppress weeds and feed the soil over the coming year.” She also urges preventing any heavy wind and rain from flattening your later-flowing perennials by using plant stakes or border restraints. If necessary, feel free to tie them in.
Isobel also asserts the importance of keeping an eye on the weather, saying: “Fleeces or cloches can protect less robust plants from heavy snowfall. Raise pots off the ground and ensure that drainage holes are clear.” She points out that you should “avoid overwatering by checking the soil moisture first”.
© Alamy Stock PhotoPerennials can liven up your borders
When to start planting and how to prepare for spring
Though the snowdrops and hellebores blooming in January mark the beginning of a new gardening year, the garden design expert advises holding back from planting more until mid-March, “when the soil is warm enough to sow hardy annuals and begin dividing perennials”.
She adds: “Soil preparation is the key to success with any new planting scheme. Start by clearing away debris and any perennial weeds that linger over winter.” Make sure you dig in lots of organic matter, to “improve drainage and correct nutrient imbalances”, but without working on any soil that has been frozen or sodden – “Not only is it hard work, but it can also destroy the soil structure,” Isobel concludes.
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