AS summer fades and we enter the glorious days of autumn, it’s the perfect time to get your garden ready for a second act of colour.
While many flowers are finishing their season, some are just getting started, and according to gardening experts, there are five flowers you should plant in your garden now.
Gardening experts have revealed the best plants now we are entering the autumn season[/caption]
The best blooms to plant in late summer were revealed by the experts on their TikTok account, @homegrown_garden.
First off, they named the undisputed queen of autumn flowers: the mum.
These quintessential blooms start showing off their vibrant colours in September and will last all the way through to the first frost.
When you’re picking out your plants, the experts recommend looking for one that isn’t already in full bloom.
This helps the plant deal with the shock of being moved, ensuring it will thrive once it’s in the ground.
If your garden is looking a little tired after the summer heat, violets are the answer.
Many species of these delicate flowers struggle in the hot weather but will revive and bloom with their beautiful five-petal flowers in the autumn.
According to the experts, a simple tip is to use a slow-release fertiliser in late summer to give them an extra boost and encourage those stunning autumn flowers.
Another great choice is the goldenrod, a gorgeous perennial wildflower that can bring a burst of yellow to your garden.
It naturally blooms from mid-summer to autumn, but you can get even more out of it by removing the spent flower clusters to encourage more new blooms to appear.
This perennial is usually planted in the spring or autumn, making now the ideal time to add it to your beds.
For a touch of magic, consider the autumn crocus.
This bulb seems to appear out of nowhere, as it sends up its foliage in the spring, which then dies back by summer, only for the beautiful, bare-stemmed flowers to pop up in the autumn.
You need to plant this bulb in the late summer for the autumn blooms to appear, so now is the time to get them in the ground.
If your garden is looking a little tired after the summer heat, violets are the answer[/caption]
Orange and red chrysanthemum flowers are great for adding some colour[/caption]
Finally, blanket flowers are a perennial hybrid known for their speedy growth and a long blooming period that stretches from late spring right into autumn.
If you notice the flowering slowing down in the heat of summer, a quick snip can encourage a new wave of blooms for the autumn season.
Simply cut the plants back to get them ready for a spectacular display.
Where to buy plants for cheap
A supermarket has sparked a frenzy by slashing the price of plants to just 1p each.
The incredible deal was discovered by social media users.
The savvy bargain-hunter filled her trolley with a haul of greenery, including seven succulents and three potted flowers in shades of pink, yellow, and orange.
She spent a total of just 10p on the lot, a remarkable saving given some of the plants were selling for £5 just last week.
August gardening jobs
The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the 10 gardening jobs to take on during the last month of summer – and the all important ones to remember if you’re going on holiday.
1. Watering plants on holiday
Think about how you’re going to water your plants if you’re going away. Irrigation systems are stupidly expensive – so ask a friend or neighbour to pop over.
2. Remember your houseplants!
For houseplants use the upside down bottle trick – where you fill a wine bottle and then tip it upside down, spout down, and stick it into the pot – the water should seep out slowly. For smaller plants you can use a thick piece of cord running from a glass of water, into the soil – so it slowly takes it up over time. Be sensible with your watering – vistit www.mains2rains.co.uk for some tips on how to conserve water in August. But use as much grey water – ie washing up water – as you can to save such a valuable resource.
3. Dig for potatoes
Second early potatoes should be ready to dig up.
4. Carry on deadheading
Use either secateurs or just pinch off the blooms with your finger and thumb. With roses, make sure you’re dead heading back to a set of five leaves, giving you the best chance of more blooms.
5. Plant strawberries
You can actually plant strawberries in late august – which will be ready next year. For the ones you already have – if they’ve got runners springing off them – try and pot them up to make more strawberries for free.
6. Prune lavenders
In late August once they’ve finished flowering cut back your lavender – always prune them back to the woody stems – but make sure you can still see some little buds.
7. Collect seeds
A lot of plants will start going to seed now – so it’s the perfect time to walk around collecting them to get free plants for next year – just make sure you label the envelopes.
8. Sow hardy annuals
Towards the end of the month, sow hardy annuals in order for them to flower next year. Try and choose sheltered spots for them.
9. Cut back roses
Prune back rambling roses and make sure they are all tied in. And in late August give your roses their last feed.
10. Keep on top of watering hanging baskets
It’s really important to keep hanging baskets hydrated – they are the first and the worst for drying out.