Planting autumn colour

Better late than never – and just think of future years!

IN an ideal world a garden contains something to catch the eye all year round, but sometimes things start to drop off when summer comes to an end. An easy way of creating seamless colour is to plant autumn flowering bulbs – and this is your last chance to do so this year.

There are bulbs for every situation and soil. Autumn crocuses and Sternbergia, plus cheerful yellow winter aconites look stunning naturalised in lawns and under trees. Borders can easily be brightened by brilliant dahlias, tall nerines with their clusters of trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of pink, and hardy Cyclamen coum that take over flowering duties in the New Year.