Autumn is the new summer

Why do we assume summer is the best time of year for gardens? Maybe it’s because we have more time to be outside. Or because the plants tend to look at their fullest. Maybe summer used to be better, when we had less heat and more rain. These days, you could argue that autumn is the new summer.

The rains are back, thank god, so everything from weeds to trees looks a lot happier. Winters are becoming milder, so late-season flowers last longer before the first frost kills them. And we have so many plants that reach their peak in September and October.

The daisy family are great ones for autumn – asters, rudbeckias, chrysanthemums – they tend to be trouble-free, flower for ages, and there are so many options that you can always find one to suit your growing conditions.

Salvias started flowering back in spring and are still going strong now. The microphylla types are by far the hardiest, often flowering right through winter, but nemorosa and those with bigger leaves, like Amistad, should cope in warm, free-draining spots.

And don’t forget native wildflowers, almost always the easiest to grow, as well as being great for insects and birds. Scabious, mallow, knapweed and cornflower are all doing their thing now.

Colour in the garden doesn’t end with August. Look around at what’s pretty right now, and find space for it in your garden. You won’t regret it.