I have a gardening secret to share with you

I’ve been gardening for 30 years, and I’ve only just learned it, so I’m pretty excited. Or slow on the uptake, depending on your opinion. Are you ready? The secret is, plants look their best before they flower.

I know we all look forward to the flowers, and they are gorgeous. But from the plant’s perspective, the flowers are the dying show. A last burst before they shut up shop for the year. A plant that has yet to flower is full of vigour, reaching for the sun, gobbling up the soil, generally doing its best to win the race for life. A plant that has already flowered is tired, and ready for a little rest.

What does this mean for your garden? It means you should plant more things that flower late in the year. Asters, sedums, sunflowers, dahlias, crocosmias. They’ll look amazing all spring and summer as they grow and bud, and their flowers will last well into autumn, surprising you with colour when you thought it was gone for the year.

A special mention goes to ornamental grasses, too. Not only do they ‘flower’ (think beautiful seedheads, wafting in the breeze) late in the year, but many of them hold their leaves and seeds all winter long, bringing height and movement to your garden when the flowers have finally gone. Panicum, Pennisetum, Calamagrostis. Grasses will keep your garden looking gorgeous all year round. Pass the secret on.

March 2025