Autumn planting and bulb planting: invest now for a colourful spring

Autumn: the secret planting season

Many gardeners put their tools away once summer ends. Big mistake. Autumn is arguably the best planting season of the year. The soil is still warm from summer, there's plenty of rain and plants have the whole winter to establish roots. What you plant now rewards you many times over next spring.

GardenWorld helps you visualise your garden's potential after seasonal care. Plant your bulbs and perennials and preview the result.

Bulbs: the foundation for a colourful spring

Tulips, daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths and grape hyacinths: they all go into the ground in autumn. The ideal planting window runs from September to December, depending on the species. Crocuses and daffodils can go in as early as September. Tulips prefer November, once the soil has properly cooled.

Buy your bulbs from a reputable supplier. Garden centres and RHS partner shops stock quality bulbs in autumn. Choose firm, mould-free specimens. The bigger the bulb, the bigger the flower.

The lasagne method

Plant bulbs in layers for months of flowering. Set tulips deepest (fifteen centimetres), daffodils above (ten centimetres) and crocuses on top (five centimetres). They'll flower in succession, giving you colour from January to May.

Planting perennials in autumn

September and October are perfect for planting perennials. The soil is warm, root growth continues and plants suffer less from evaporation than in spring. Order online or visit a garden centre. The choice in autumn is surprisingly wide.

Dividing is also an autumn job. Perennials that have outgrown their spot after three to five years can be dug up, split and replanted now. Every shoot with roots is a new plant. Free and effective.

Shrubs and trees

Deciduous shrubs and trees are best planted in November when they go dormant. This applies to roses, crab apples, buddleja and hedging plants. They have the whole winter to settle in and burst into growth come spring.

Bare-root plants are cheaper than container-grown ones in autumn and often establish better. Order from a nursery and plant them as soon as they arrive.

The autumn veg patch

The vegetable garden doesn't end after summer. Sow winter purslane, lamb's lettuce and spinach for a winter harvest. Plant garlic and winter onions in October. They need a cold period to develop well and will be ready to harvest in June.

Clear spent crops and work compost into the soil. Sow a green manure like rye or clover on empty beds. It protects the soil, suppresses weeds and adds nutrients when you dig it in next spring.

Hedging and shrubs

Autumn is the ideal time to plant a hedge. Beech, privet and hornbeam: plant them in October or November. The roots grow on as long as the soil isn't frozen, and they push ahead strongly in spring.

Garden centres stock value hedge packs in autumn. Expect three to five plants per running metre, depending on the variety.

Practical planting tips

Dig the planting hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Mix the excavated soil with compost. Set the plant at the same depth as in the pot and firm the soil well. Water generously, even if it's raining. The roots need immediate contact with moist soil.

Mulch after planting with a five-centimetre layer. It protects against frost, retains moisture and suppresses weeds. Bark chips or cocoa shells work well.

Invest now, enjoy later

Autumn feels like an ending, but for your garden it's a new beginning. Every bulb you plant now, every shrub you put in the ground, is an investment in the next season. And when the first crocuses push through in February, you'll remember exactly why you did this.

Want to dream about your spring garden already? Visit GardenWorld and design the garden that will reward all your autumn effort.