Primetime for perennials

It’s the season to plant, propagate and move, says Ruth

- Ruth Hayes

AUTUMN may be a time for saying farewell to the sun and summer flowers, but it is also a time of new beginnings and ‘hellos’. The next few weeks are perfect for perennials, for planting, dividing, cutting back and generally nurturing.

I have several plants in need of a home, including a sedum, as well as some thriving bergenia cuttings that need to wriggle their roots in some fresh soil and compost.

There is also a scented pink phlox that initially failed to thrive in the soil, was dug up and set in a container to recover, and has been in potted purgatory for the past year. It has grown considerably, too, so I plan to split it, which will help its productivity.

Whether you are planting, dividing or simply cutting back and caring for existing plants, the weeks between now and when it gets really cold are ideal for perennial work.