A key time for harvesting and preparing for next year, milder autumnal temperatures can be great for gardeners and Dobbies has some top tips for getting the most out of your garden during this time.
Autumnal Foliage
Many gardens can look tired after bright and beautiful summer displays have faded, but a rich riot of autumnal foliage, shrubs, flowers and berries can add striking splashes of colour.
Japanese Maples (Acer palmatum cultivars) are particularly beautiful in autumn and make elegant focal points. Ranging from small weeping varieties to small trees, their divided foliage and amazing variety of shades – from golden yellow, orange, dark red to crimson and purple – are truly stunning to see.
Japanese Maples enjoy light shade and rich well drained soil with some moisture in the air, but tend not to like draughts, cold winds or hot dry conditions.
If you are restricted for space, why not try a variety of Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria). Small bushy trees or shrubs, varieties like ‘Golden Spirit’ have brilliant golden yellow leaves in the summer, but then change to shades of coral, orange and red in the autumn. Another variety is ‘Royal Purple’ that has dark purple leaves that turn scarlet before they fall in the autumn.
Called Smoke Bush because of the wispy appearance of its delicate flowers, the plant responds to most soil types as long as they are well drained, but holding some moisture. If planting on sandy soil add in a good organic compost or peat around the roots.
Known as the Winged Spindle Tree or Burning Bush, the deciduous shrub Euonymus alatus also comes into its own during the autumn months. Its foliage turns an amazing fiery red and its leaves actually appear to drip from the branches. When they’ve all fallen, the tree itself has an unusual corky bark that’s a real talking point. Working well in any soil type in a sunny position, the bush can grow to 2.5m in five years.
The Stags Horn Sumach (Rhus typhina) is another plant that makes a great autumnal focal point in the garden. A deciduous shrub, its large leaves turn from a golden yellow to wonderful shades of orange and red in autumn. Also try the new variety Rhus Tiger Eyes if space is at a premium as it only grows to around six inches in ten years. It has a fantastic golden yellow foliage during spring and summer, which intensifies before the leaves drop in autumn.
Autumnal Berries
Autumn also brings colourful displays of fruits and berries. Not only do they look attractive, but they’re also a great source of food for birds and animals.
Highly attractive to birds, Cotoneasters produce brilliant red berries that persist over winter and some have glossy dark green leaves that remain evergreen, whilst others tint red before falling at the end of autumn. Happy in full sun or partial shade, these versatile shrubs also have lovely pink-ish white flowers in early summer.
Most varieties of Pyracantha (firethorn) produce fantastic shows of red, orange or yellow berries in the autumn and winter.
The Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas) also produces bright red cherry like fruit and leaves that turn a reddish-purple in autumn. A deciduous shrub or small tree, it boasts star-shaped yellow flowers in early spring.
It’s also worth knowing that as a rule birds tend to eat red and black berries first, before moving onto yellow and then pink and white berries. If you go for a real mix of colours in your garden you can keep a show throughout the autumn period!
Attracting Birds
Birds are attracted to many garden plants for their seeds, berries and shelter, but you can also encourage different birds by making a wide variety of purpose bought food available to them.
A good tip is to place black sunflower seeds and peanuts in feeders, both high in nourishing oils and high energy foods, and to scatter mixed seed mix on a bird table or the ground. Putting these foods in a variety of places will also help attract most of the species found in your area.
Fat balls and other fat-based food bars are also excellent winter foods. Sold in nylon mesh bags, always remove the bag before putting the fat ball out as the soft mesh can trap and injure birds.
Although feeding benefits birds most over the colder months, food shortages can occur at any time of the year so it’s important to feed birds all year round. It’s also beneficial to provide water for drinking and bathing.
Autumnal Fruit Trees
Autumn is the perfect time to plant fruit trees as the soil is still warm and it also gives tree roots enough time to establish before colder weather hits.
Fruit trees can make a huge impact to any garden, adding height and structure, often offering more than one season of interest and providing delicious fruit.
There’s also a tree to suit any garden, provided you weigh up the final height and spread and make sure it suits the space and growing conditions available.
Suggestions include apple, pear, plums and cherry trees who all tend to enjoy sunny but sheltered spots, but also aren’t overly temperamental.
Planting trees is also fairly simple too. Start by preparing the soil in the spot where the tree is to be planted with fertiliser, then just dig a hole that’s large enough to
comfortably take its roots. Place the tree in the hole and cover the roots with soil up to the surrounding ground level, then simply firm down the soil making sure it is in contact with the roots. Water well if the conditions are dry. Some trees may need to be staked, but ask at the time of buying your tree for further advice.
Self pollinating varieties are available, however fruit tree pollination is rarely a problem due to the vast number of fruit trees across the country.
