The grand finale

If your garden is running out of steam as summer reaches its climax, take inspiration from Sue Kent’s pick of late-show plants to give your plot a boost

I'm a three-season gardener, which means I only garden from March to November - it's not possible for me to garden in winter as once I have a coat on I can't really use my hands. So, eking out the garden interest for as long as possible is important, particularly from late summer into autumn, making the most of the final weeks I can be outside. I sow annuals in spring to boost my floral display for as long as possible, but it's my pick of perennials that really holds the display for the final months of the gardening year.

Staking, lifting and storing plants over winter is a challenge, so to make things easier I plant mainly strong-stemmed hardy perennials to suit my abilities, as they can be maintained with just a pair of small secateurs.

Sue's pick of late-show plants

These 10 performers will all put on a late-summer display - many well into autumn. Buy them in flower now for an instant boost or plant in autumn or spring for results next summer.

1 Hydrangea macrophylla

I can safely say that with at least 25 hydrangeas in my garden these are one of my favourite late-summer plants. Tolerant of sun and shade, the flowers start to take on a subtle, softer hue as the season changes. H. macrophylla mophead varieties make striking indoor displays.
Height x Spread 1-2m x 1.5-2.5m

2 Rosa 'Mary Delaney'

I have to get close to my plants and thorny roses can hurt, so I was delighted when I discovered 'Mary Delaney', a virtually thornless rose by David Austin Roses. Pale pink and perfumed, it is a repeat-flowering climber that blooms well into autumn if regularly deadheaded.
HXS 3.75m x 1.2m

3 Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude'