I’ve noticed some apple trees not only have a few apples left but have also started flowering again, the weather really is causing confusion all round. Other plants in the garden have continued flowering on into the end of October and start of November. Particularly the dainty heads of Verbena bonariensis, the lilac daises of asters and Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterlies’ (it has recently had a name change to Oenothera lindheimeri), they really do look like tiny white butterflies dancing over the borders. Particularly when mixed in with grasses. The purple-bronze foliage of Ageratina is still holding its own with the fluffy white flowers floating above.
Calamagrostis brachytricha
This is the season that grasses become the star of the borders, the pink flowers of many varieties of Miscanthus have faded to shades of silver and gold. The fluffy flowers of Calamagrostis brachytricha and the ephemeral quality of Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea ‘Transparent’. I like to use molinia to plant in front of perennials, to give that glimpse of colour behind.
Euonymus europaeus lighting up the landscape
But most of all the thing I love about this season is the autumnal foliage as it turns from yellow through to fiery orange and blazing reds. There is nothing better than visiting a garden large enough to have an acer collection and seeing the range of colours from vibrant green through to the deep purples. One tree in particular that lights up the landscape long before you reach it is the spindle tree (Euonymus europaeus ‘Red Cascade’). The vibrant red leaves with its winged fruit in pink and orange. In smaller gardens Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’ is ideal.
November Advice
There are always a few tasks to help with the aftercare of any garden, here are my top tips for November:
- Hellebores: The leaves may need trimming or cutting back so that the flowers can be seen. It is worth having a look to see if their are buds or new shoots hiding behind some of the larger leaved varieties.
- Leaf Clearing: With all the storms we’ve had recently the leaves are piling up in the garden and on the drive around here. I tend to clear the ones off the path, particularly in the front garden so that people don’t slip on them and depending on the amount some of the rest. I then like to leave a few as shelter for the wildlife, hedgehogs in particular like a pile of leaves to help keep them warm over winter. Those that I rake or sweep up I like to make into mulch.
- Bare root fruit and roses: Once the temperature drops low enough bare root trees and shrubs can be planted. Whether thinking about adding a new hedge, a few fruit trees or some new roses.
- Planting tulip bulbs: If they haven’t already gone in the ground the last of the tulip bulbs can still be planted. Many suppliers are offering discounts at the moment, perfect for picking up a few extra packets. Although once you see all the different colours it is really easy to get carried away and then end up planting hundreds of them (could just be me).
Looking forward to the hellebores flowering
What I’m working on at the moment
Getting gardens winter ready: A few clients have been keen to learn more about caring for their gardens themselves. Along with planting bulbs we have been wandering around the garden and giving hedging plants a last prune, cutting back the perennials that have faded and fallen over and generally giving everything a last check for the year.
Leaving the seed heads in the winter garden
Planting bulbs on mass is something I do a lot of around this time of year, normally I would have completed most of this by now but I’ve been holding off with all the storms and rain we’ve had recently. I don’t want them to rot before they’ve had a chance to grow.
Bulb planting ready for next Spring
I’ve been delivering the planting plans to clients and we’ve been talking through them, the colour palettes are based on the initial discussion we had when I first visited the garden and wrote up the client brief. Sometimes clients have specific plants they’d love to grow but often it is left to me to choose (based on the site analysis), discussing the plans and looking at the photos of the plants is a good check. It can be reminder that there are plants someone doesn’t like or since we first started talking they’ve visited some gardens and seen a plant (or two) that really appeals. Some of these are updated plans for a garden where the hard landscaping has been completed and a few tweaks were made during the work, so we’ve reshaped the borders and re-jigged the planting slightly.
Several varieties of Miscanthus have been added to a planting plan recently
One of the ongoing projects at the moment is my garden, I have two large box cones by the garden steps that lead down to the lawn and several box balls in the front garden (mostly by steps). The road is the highest point and then the front garden slopes down to the house and then the back garden slopes down from there. I realised recently that the box has box moth caterpillar. For a while I thought about feeding it all up with liquid seaweed and moth traps, all of the box has been carefully tended over the years, to keep its shape as it grew. However I’ve decided it’s time for a change (eventually the caterpillars will probably win) and I’m excited about this. It’s a chance to come up with a new planting design, I’m a bit like a kid in a sweetshop at the moment. So far I’ve taken the box out of the back garden and I’ve started taking a few other plants out and dividing up the irises. It is amazing how much space I’ve regained and how wide the steps look now that the box is gone. Once I’ve decided what’s staying and finished moving everything around I’ll be putting a planting plan together. Something I always do for clients but not often in my own garden.
Trends
Wildlife: Thinking about wildlife when designing a garden has become increasingly important over recent years. Bees will still be looking for food in November, it is worth thinking about including plants that are still flowering at this time of year in any planting scheme. Simple things such as leaving a gap in a fence board for hedgehogs to be able to travel between gardens to look for food. Or at this time of year not making the garden too tidy so they have materials to make their nest warm while they hibernate.
Sedums will flower into November providing a food source for bees
Drainage: It isn’t really a trend but it is something we should be thinking about in our gardens, with all the recent storms the water needs somewhere to go. Rainwater harvesting systems range from adding a water butt to sinking an underwater tank below the ground that can capture grey water from the house as well as rain water. Plants too will help soak up water, a perfect example of this is the Grey to Green scheme in Sheffield. The city now has more green spaces and the plants help soak up the rain water before the pollutants are filtered out and the water eventually disperses at a slower rate. Rain gardens can equally be incorporated into gardens that are particularly prone to becoming soggy.
Cyclamen are ideal for autumn and winter colour
Christmas: Sorry I’ve mentioned the C word but it has been all over the adverts this week. John Lewis set the trends for decorating your home for Christmas but I see no reason not to continue it into the garden. The best part is that no one needs to put all the decorations away in January they can just be left ready to put on a show again next Christmas, a really sustainable way of decorating. This year the theme is all about remembering the past, enjoying the here and now with one eye on the future. A few of the theme colours would be ideal to add winter colour, the simple palette of white and greens. The shades of pink or the autumnal orange are all colours that can be found in winter flowering plants, happy decorating!
Enhancing the planting design in your garden
If you would like more help in establishing a colourful garden or border, I offer a planting plan service.
About the author
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 on 01904 670330 or info@camillagrayleydesign.com
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