What’s looking good in the garden

Having had a fairly warm autumn there are still plenty of leaves on the trees, a joy to look at, from the shades of yellow and orange-brown on a woodland walk to the vibrant reds on the Acers while wandering round an arboreteum. I love seeing the avenue of brilliant red acers at Thorp Perrow arboretum (near Bedale in the Yorkshire Dales) that lead your eye up to the house. There is something truly magical about the brilliant red against a dark green backdrop of pines trees.

Sorbus (rowans) seem to be having a good year, with an abundance of coloured berries, from the shiny red-orange of Sorbus ‘Eastern Promise’, to the pink of Sorbus vilmorinii. Sorbus cashmiriana with its pure white berries is a smaller variety, that I’ve enjoyed using in gardens. Not to mention the traditional red berried varieties, such as Sorbus commixta ‘Embley’ or Sorbus aucuparia. Euonymus europaeus ‘Red Cascade’ (the spindle tree) not only has brilliant red leaves but has colourful pink and orange winged fruits, long after the leaves have dropped. Often grown as part of a mixed hedgerow but can be grown on its own, often as a shrub or as a standard tree In gardens. Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’ is a favourite for using in borders, one that fits perfectly into smaller spaces and can often be squeezed into a border to add some vibrant autumn colour.

The Cyclamen hederifolium in shades of pink and white, are at their peak at the moment, flowering from October and on into November. At a larger scale the pink scented flowers of Viburnum x bodnantense are currently blooming away, standing out against bare branches, now that leaves have dropped. Talking of scent, I’ve been inhaling the last of the candyfloss or burnt sugar scent of Cercidiphyllum japonicum (Katsura tree), as it wafts across the breeze. If I could fit one into my garden I would.

Garden Trends

Purple vegetables have become a big trend this year and it’s not hard to see why. They tick a lot of boxes, including the trend of growing Edimentals, plants that look pretty and taste good. Along with the resurgence of growing heritage vegetable varieties, the vibrant colour of kohlrabi, French beans such as Trionfo Violetto and Kale ‘Redbor’. Wandering around gardens both in Yorkshire and on holiday I’ve noticed a lot of purple vegetables in the dedicated beds and mixed into the general borders. I have to admit I love how pretty the beans look winding their way up obelisks in the garden and they taste good, but I’m always a little disappointed when I take the lid off the pan, only to see that the beans are now green (having lost their purple colour as they steam).

Environmentally conscious gardening has become a big trend this year, personally I want to see as it way of gardening going forward, not just a trend that lasts a year or two. Reading the studies about the decline in hedgehog and insect populations, the effect we have on the land as we make changes to our gardens should be at the forefront of our collective minds. The features that are being thought about include wildlife friendly water features, with gentle inclines to allow insects to be able to crawl out. Maybe a few shallow areas for wildlife to stand and drink in, during the warmer summer months.

Something as small as allowing a gap under the fence for hedgehogs to be able to wander from garden to garden, when foraging for food. Leaving a few piles of leaves over winter, rather than clearing them up, for insects or hedgehogs to hibernate in all helps. But most of all thinking carefully about plant choice, to ensure there is food for pollinators from around February or March time until November. Shrubs or trees with berries or fruit on over winter will provide a much needed food source for birds.

Aftercare and development

With many plants dying back for the year, there is a last push to get the garden prepared for winter, not to mention a little planning for next spring:

• Bulb planting: As someone who is busy planting bulbs in client’s gardens, my own garden is usually left until the end. Planting spring flowering bulbs such as tulips and alliums can still be planted in November and while I’m not advocating it, I have been known to plant them in December! They did still come up the following spring.
• Winter colour: As the darker nights draw in it is easy to forget about what is happening outside but I still enjoy wandering round the garden or looking out the window, as I’m sat in the kitchen eating breakfast. Seeing some colour on a grey day improves my mood no end. Most garden centres and nurseries have packs of cyclamen and violas around the moment, a quick way of adding colour, either in pots or under deciduous shrubs.
• Hellebores: These are another plant that are starting to come into the garden centres, ready to plant out and add winter colour. The early flowering varieties start blooming around December, such as the original Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) and Helleborus purpurascens. Existing hellebores will need their leaves cutting back, particularly the larger straggly ones to be able to see the flowers as they start coming through.
• Leaf clearing: There are still lots of leaves piling up in my garden and as I look out of the window, some of the trees still have a lot to drop. They can all be cleared up, however I tend to sweep up the ones on the steps and the paths, as I don’t want any visitors slipping on them. The ones in the borders I usually leave to mulch down in the borders on their own, they will provide shelter for any overwintering insects and any extra mulch is always beneficial. Those that are swept up can be composted down to make leaf mulch.
• Bare root planting: The nurseries and growers are currently waiting for the temperature to drop, to be able to start lifting bare root plants. They will hopefully start becoming available some time in November, ready to start planting in gardens. Whether looking for hedging plants, trees or shrubs (including roses), it is the ideal time to plant them so they can become established in the dormant season.

What I’m working on

When I’m not out and about enjoying the autumn colour, I  can’t believe it’s already November. I’m back into the swing of arranging bare root orders, to get trees, hedges and shrubs planted, ready for clients to enjoy next spring and summer. Along with coaching clients who want to learn more about pruning and putting their gardens to bed for the winter.

The last of the bulbs are now going in, from narcissus to alliums and tulips in a whole rainbow of colours. Planning work is continuing on a few gardens ready to be built next year. One of my favourite parts of the job has to be seeing gardens move from paper to reality and clients sitting out enjoying their time outside.

Camilla Grayley is an experienced garden designer, speaker and writer based in York. She designs gardens and delivers garden consultancy services for clients in Yorkshire and across the UK. Get in touch if you’d like help planning your garden for 2025 on 07887 926095 or info@camillagrayleydesign.com