Summer is slowly coming to an end and the garden is getting ready for a new season. The days are becoming shorter, the first leaves are starting to change colour and cooler mornings are announcing the arrival of autumn. You might think this is the time to put your gardening activities on hold, but nothing could be further from the truth. Autumn is actually an excellent time to plant new shrubs.
The soil is still warm after summer, while the cooler temperatures mean that young shrubs are less likely to suffer from heat and drought. This gives them plenty of time to establish their roots before winter arrives. By spring, they are well prepared to start growing again.
Looking for some inspiration? We have selected five shrubs that can make a beautiful addition to your garden. From long-flowering varieties and evergreen shrubs to plants that are already looking ahead to spring, these five shrubs can help keep your garden interesting beyond the summer months.
Hibiscus syriacus: a colourful end to summer
Hibiscus syriacus, also known as Rose of Sharon, is a beautiful shrub for anyone who wants to enjoy summer colour for as long as possible. While many other plants are gradually preparing for their dormant period, this shrub can continue to provide plenty of colour in the garden.
Its large, striking flowers give the garden an exotic appearance and are available in a range of colours. This makes Hibiscus syriacus easy to combine with other shrubs and perennial plants.
A sunny position will help the shrub flower abundantly. Give it enough space to develop and, over time, it will become a real focal point in the garden.
Autumn is a good time to plant Hibiscus syriacus. The shrub can gradually settle into its new position, allowing it to get off to a strong start when the next growing season arrives.
Perovskia: light, strong and long-flowering
Perovskia, often known as Russian sage, is another excellent choice for late summer. Its long flowering stems covered with small blue-violet flowers give the plant a light and airy appearance. Combined with its grey-green, aromatic foliage, it creates a particularly atmospheric look.
Perovskia enjoys plenty of sunshine and copes well with warm and relatively dry conditions. This makes it an excellent choice for gardens where you are looking for plants that do not require constant attention.
Its elegant growth habit also makes Perovskia suitable for a variety of garden styles. In a natural border, it combines beautifully with perennials and ornamental grasses, while in a more structured garden it adds softness and movement.
If you would like to add more colour and structure to your garden towards the end of the season, Perovskia is a versatile shrub to consider.
Sarcococca: evergreen with a fragrant surprise
Not every shrub needs to stand out with spectacular autumn colours. Sarcococca shows just how valuable evergreen shrubs can be in the garden.
Its glossy, dark green foliage remains throughout the year and provides structure even during the colder months. Sarcococca is therefore an interesting choice for anyone who wants their garden to retain some greenery during winter.
But there is more to come. In winter, small and rather inconspicuous flowers appear. They may not immediately catch your eye, but they produce a wonderfully sweet fragrance. Planted in a sheltered spot near a patio, entrance or garden path, you can enjoy this scent even more.
Sarcococca therefore combines several qualities: evergreen, compact and beautifully fragrant when most other plants are dormant.
Autumn is also a good time to give this evergreen shrub a permanent place in your garden.
Potentilla: a compact shrub with a long flowering period
Potentilla may be less imposing than some larger shrubs, but that is precisely what makes it so versatile. This compact shrub is known for its long flowering period and can provide colour throughout a large part of the growing season.
Depending on the variety, the flowers come in different shades, making Potentilla easy to combine with other shrubs and perennials.
Its compact growth is another advantage. Potentilla is suitable not only for large borders, but also for smaller gardens. It can also be used as a low planting along a path, patio or border.
When planted in autumn, Potentilla has time to settle into its new surroundings. Once the new growing season begins, it already has a good foundation for fresh growth and flowering.
Ribes sanguineum: plant now for colour in spring
With Ribes sanguineum, we are already looking a little further ahead. This flowering currant is known for its striking spring display, when the garden slowly starts coming back to life after winter.
The pink to reddish flowers appear in clusters and provide a cheerful splash of colour. Ribes sanguineum is a good reminder that a garden is not only about what is flowering today. With the right shrubs, you can also plan ahead and make sure there is something new to enjoy throughout the different seasons.
And this is where autumn comes in. By planting Ribes sanguineum now, you give the shrub time to establish itself in its new position before spring arrives.
A small investment in autumn can therefore help create a colourful start to the next gardening season.
Why plant shrubs now?
Autumn is sometimes seen as the end of the gardening season, but it is actually a very interesting time to plant shrubs. Temperatures are generally milder than in summer and the soil is still warm from the previous months.
There are also usually fewer prolonged periods of heat and drought. This gives newly planted shrubs favourable conditions to focus first on developing their root systems.
There is therefore no need to wait until spring to start working on your garden plans. By planting in autumn, you can give your garden a head start before the warmer months return.
With Hibiscus syriacus, Perovskia, Sarcococca, Potentilla and Ribes sanguineum, you can also create interest across several seasons. From the late-season flowers of Hibiscus syriacus and Perovskia to the evergreen foliage of Sarcococca and the spring flowers of Ribes sanguineum.
Time to prepare your garden for a new season
Autumn certainly does not have to mean the end of the gardening season. On the contrary, it is a great time to look ahead and give new shrubs a place in your garden.
Would you like to give your garden a fresh boost this autumn? From 23 to 30 September, enjoy 10% off shrubs at Garden Plants for Sale. It is the perfect opportunity to choose your favourite shrubs and start preparing your garden for the next growing season.
Choose the varieties you love, give them the right spot in your garden and let autumn become the beginning of a new season of growth.
10% off shrubs – from 23 to 30 September.
Because a beautiful garden does not only begin in spring. You can start creating it today.