IN THE GARDEN
IN LIVING COLOUR Sally Petitt inspires us to bring seasonal interest to our gardens with plants and trees that put on the best autumn show I t’s easy to think that the end of summer is the conclusion of colour in the garden, but autumn brings a wave of fiery hues to warm the soul as the days shorten. Gardening jobs for October
While long, hot days might be a thing of the past, the gentle light, misty mornings and bold colourings of the season can be as satisfying as the most glorious summer day. Often, the subdued light and grey skies bring out the intense colours of late perennials and autumn leaves even more. Personally, for me, walking through a beech woodland on a crisp carpet of golden yellow and russet-tinged leaves on a windy October day is exhilarating, and unmatched by anything else. Add to this the emergence of fungi in countless shapes and colours – as well as an abundance of fruits on native trees – and autumn really deserves to be more widely celebrated. Yes, days might be shorter and the temperatures lower, but there is still much to celebrate in the countryside and in our gardens at this time of year. Nature’s performance So how and why do our trees and plants change colour as autumn approaches? Intense autumn colour – created by leaves in trees – is a spectacle that many gardens strive to achieve, extending the season of interest long after summer fades. As days shorten, photosynthesis slows
1 Pot up tender plants such as pelargoniums for overwintering in a greenhouse or conservatory. 2 Take hardwood cuttings. 3 Plant up heathers, heucheras and winter pansies in pots to provide winter colour. 4 Divide herbaceous perennials. 5 Start tidying the garden for winter by clearing fallen leaves, weeding beds and cutting down perennials – though remember that an unkempt garden can provide protection for overwintering wildlife. 6 Plant trees. and so less chlorophyll (green pigment) is produced in leaves. While this occurs, pigments hidden by the green colouring for much of the year, such as yellow and orange carotenoids and red and purple anthocyanins, are exposed to provide rich colour. This, coupled with falling night temperatures, produces intense autumn colour. The best of this is produced
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