Autumn Planting Advice

This is the season of firecracker hues to warm you up as the temperature drops.

The smell of woodsmoke and the rustle of leaves appeal to the senses, and the early darkness makes the remaining daylight hours even more precious.

Russet shades of leaves, fruits and stems take centre stage, compensating for the falling light levels, and the lower sun angle creates long shadows and greater colour contrasts.

Although this shrub rose, Roseraie de L'Hay, only flowers once during the summer it makes up for it by a spectacular show of hips and leaves in the autumn.

"Bright Lights" Swiss Chard can be picked for the kitchen throughout the autumn until the heaviest frosts.

Vitis Brandt boasts stunning leaf colour and can be trained along wires on the house or, for quick effective shade, over a pergola.

The yellow bells of this summer flowering Clematis tangutica are followed by attractive seedheads.