Transitioning Your Garden from Summer to Autumn 2023

  • By Chandler Harrod

As we approach the latter part of summer, it’s time to turn our gardening thoughts towards the cooler, shorter days of early autumn. Preparing your garden in July and August can ensure a smooth transition and an abundance of colour and life as the seasons change. We bring you a comprehensive guide on plants, hedging, trees, and crucial gardening advice to get your outdoor spaces ready for the next season.

Contents of This Article

General Maintenance

Start by maintaining your current summer garden. Water plants deeply, especially during hot, dry periods. Deadhead flowering plants to encourage more blooms, and harvest vegetables regularly to boost their productivity.

Preparing the Soil

As your summer plants finish their cycle, it’s a great opportunity to prepare your soil for autumn planting. Add compost or well-rotted manure to boost nutrient content. Remove spent summer plants and turn them into compost, a beneficial and eco-friendly way to recycle plant material.

Prune for Autumn

Some shrubs and trees, like summer-flowering spirea and wisteria, benefit from pruning in late summer. This practice helps maintain plant health and vigour and encourages a fresh flush of growth.

Plant Recommendations

Late Summer Blooms

Perennials like Echinacea and Rudbeckia offer a stunning display of colours and attract pollinators. Hardy Fuchsias also thrive in the UK climate, delivering an abundance of flowers till the first frost.

Autumn-Ready Plants

 Plan for early autumn by choosing plants that come alive in the cooler weather. Asters, Sedum (Stonecrop), and Japanese Anemones are fantastic options.

For Hedging

Privet (Ligustrum) and Hornbeam (Carpinus Betulus) are excellent hedging choices, providing dense, wildlife-friendly coverage.

For Trees

 Crab Apples (Malus) and Rowan (Sorbus) are small garden-friendly trees that provide autumn interest with their attractive fruits and foliage.

Edible Plants

For those interested in home-grown produce, consider planting Swiss chard, perpetual spinach, and winter salads. These crops will provide fresh produce well into the colder months.

Plan for Spring

Late summer is the ideal time to order and plant spring-flowering bulbs. Daffodils, Hyacinths, and early Crocuses should be in the ground by the end of August for a spectacular spring display.

Protect Your Garden

As autumn approaches, so does the risk of early frosts. Keep horticultural fleece or cloches handy to protect vulnerable plants.

In conclusion, the transition from summer to autumn in your garden can be a time of delightful change rather than a period of decline. By preparing your garden in late summer, you can extend the season of colour and interest well into autumn. So why wait? Get out there and start preparing your garden for a fantastic autumnal display!