Autumn is one of the best times to add new plants to your garden, from roses and conifers to trees, shrubs and spring-flowering bulbs.
With warm soil, cooler temperatures and usually more rainfall, it is a great season to get planting and prepare your garden for next year.
Why Plant in Autumn?
Autumn provides great conditions for getting new plants into the ground. The soil has retained heat from the warmer months, so roots can continue developing as temperatures above ground begin to cool.
Much-needed rainfall should be brought to our gardens, helping to replenish moisture in the soil after the continuous heatwaves we’ve experienced this summer.
Cooler weather also places less stress on newly planted plants, helping them to establish more successfully.
Giving plants time to establish during autumn can help them be better prepared when the main growing season begins. Rather than planting everything once spring arrives, getting some of your planting done now can also help spread gardening jobs throughout the year.
Autumn is also a great opportunity to look at the structure of your garden as summer displays begin to fade. This can make it easier to identify gaps in borders and areas where trees, shrubs or conifers could add shape or year-round interest.
What Can You Plant in Autumn?
- Roses – Autumn planting gives roses a strong start ahead of next year’s summer flowers.
- Conifers – Ideal for introducing year-round structure, shape and greenery to the garden.
- Trees and shrubs – Cooler autumn conditions give larger plants a chance to settle into their new position before the following season.
- Perennials and grasses – Give your borders a head start with plants that will return with fresh growth next season.
- Spring-flowering bulbs – Plant daffodils, tulips and alliums now for spectacular colour next year.
- Soft Fruit – Get future crops off to a good start by adding fruit bushes before the main growing season begins.
Our Plant of the Week
If you have a spare, sunny area of your garden and are looking for a plant with year round interest, check out our Plant Of The Week – Hebes. As an evergreen shrub, hebes retain their foliage throughout the year, providing valuable colour and structure even after their flowers have faded.
They are also attractive to bees and butterflies, alongside other pollinating insects, making them a lovely addition to wildlife gardens.
Hebes are ideal to be planted in autumn, allowing their roots to settle in before winter arrives. This means that they will be more established for spring, ready to produce healthier and happier flowers.
For more information on hebes, be sure to check out our recent Plant of the Week, available to watch now on YouTube!
Preparing Your Garden for Autumn Planting
Before adding new plants to your garden this autumn, we recommend taking a little time to prepare your planting area. This means that your new plants will have the best opportunity to thrive. Clear the area you are planning to plant by removing any weeds, fallen leaves and faded summer bedding. You can improve your soil where needed by breaking up large clumps and adding compost or well-rotted manure to boost nutrients.
Consider where your plants are going to grow, as this is just as important as preparing your soil. Check how much sunlight the area receives and think about the eventual height and spread of each plant, making sure there is enough space for them to develop and grow.
Any new plants should be thoroughly watered before planting, especially if the recent conditions have been dry. Once planted, water them well again to help settle the soil around the roots. Add a layer of mulch around the base of new plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Grown on Our Own Sussex Nurseries
At Tates of Sussex, we grow many of the plants we sell ourselves over two dedicated nursery sites. Together, Old Barn Nurseries and South Downs Nurseries play a vital role in bringing top-quality, homegrown plants to all four of our garden centres.
Set across four acres of Sussex countryside, Old Barn Nurseries produces over 250,000 plants each year across 400 different varieties. The nursery includes glasshouses, polytunnels and open-air growing beds, all expertly looked after by our knowledgeable team.
Located behind our Hassocks centre, South Downs Nursery is made up of a series of polytunnels and potting benches. Here, alongside cultivating plants, our in-house team designs and plants stunning hanging baskets, patio pots and window boxes to add colour to your gardens throughout the seasons.
Plants we grow at our own nurseries include herbs, spring bulbs, bedding plants, cyclamen, ferns, strawberries and summer perennials, amongst others. We distribute our own plants across our garden centres, so no matter which Tates you visit, you’ll get high-quality plants whilst supporting local horticulture.
Autumnal Lawn Care
After summer, lawns are often a little worse for wear due to hot, dry weather and increased use. The mild conditions in autumn offer the ideal time to carry out some simple lawn maintenance, allowing the ground to recover before winter arrives.
Rake away dead grass, debris and moss from the lawn to help water and air reach the soil more easily. This process, known as scarifying, also helps to remove excess thatch. Any suitable grass and thatch you remove can be added to your compost heap.
Autumn is also a great time to repair worn or bare patches in your lawn, by sowing grass seed. The soil retains warmth from summer, while cooler, damper conditions help seeds germinate and establish. Before sowing, prepare bare areas by removing weeds and debris, lightly loosen the soil and keep the area moist while the new grass establishes.
Get Your Garden Ready this Autumn
Whether you are planning to add structure with trees and conifers, plant spring bulbs or create autumnal colour in your borders, there is plenty you can do in your garden this season.
This autumn, keep up to date with our Tates Rewards offers and follow us on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook for gardening tips, seasonal offers and inspiration. Each week throughout our ‘Autumn Is For Planting’ campaign, we’ll be sharing new posts focusing on what you can plant now for a better garden next season.
Pop into your local Tates of Sussex Garden Centre today to explore our range of plants ready for autumn planting and speak to our friendly team for advice on choosing the right plants for your garden.
Also, check out our newest YouTube short to find out more about our ‘Autumn is for Planting’ campaign!
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