Get ready for autumn

It’s time to think about the golden season, says Ruth

- Ruth Hayes

I LOVE autumn, I love the golden days and slightly wistful mornings laden with dew-jeweled spiders’ webs, the air crisp and fresh. I’m not so keen on the later grey, damp days when everything smells of old leaves and it’s impossible to get the washing dry, but the crisp clear days when there is still some warmth make it a joy to be in the garden.

This is just as well, considering that autumn is one of the busiest times of the year and September, as its gateway, is the month to start planning.

There are beds, pots, and borders to clear of summer bedding, making room for its winter and spring equivalent or maybe perennials to fill a gap permanently.

I took out a large stand of honesty this week and replaced it with a helenium. The honesty has already self-seeded and I’ve saved some more seeds to sow elsewhere too.