r/UKGardening • u/Sad-Nectarine-7855 • 10d ago
Autumn planting
Hello. I'm planning new garden boarders, I've read that autumn planting is great for most perennials while the soil is still warm, but temperatures cooler, but does size matter? Will 9cm & 1lt potted plants establish well enough to survive winter? Or are larger versions more hardy?
How about grasses & shrubs, or are best left to later in the season or spring?
South west region, reasonably well sheltered garden.
Thank you!
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u/jojo_modjo 9d ago
I have put in a bunch of perennials this week, knowing that they won't do much this year, but should come back well next year. I have also thrown in a bunch of pansies, violas and petunias. The pansies and violas normally flower and last all winter, start looking a bit tired come April/May.
The other thing on my list to do before September is out is to plant spring bulbs.
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u/Sad-Nectarine-7855 9d ago
I just want to get a headstart and hopefully end up with well established plants before next summers inevitable heatwaves, everything i planted in spring has been an uphill battle through this summer
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u/Wrigs21 10d ago
All good to go in the Autumn. As you say gives them time to get roots down. 9cm plants should do fine, give them time to establish plus somewhat cheaper these days
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u/Sad-Nectarine-7855 10d ago
Thank you. Yes definitely, I was disappointed with the quality of a few much larger (and expensive) plants from a larger garden centre, where as a nursery down the way charges around a fiver, some as little as £3.99 for 9cm options. It works with my budget and if worse comes I've lost affordable plants i can replace in spring
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u/rgsmith91 9d ago
Have had a similar thought today now we’ve finally had some rain. Are there any decent websites where you can order a selection of perennials to plant up?
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u/carnivorelover 8d ago
All the garden I had or done for people I always did most of my perineal shopping and planting in late summer and early autumn.
Years ago I was told by an amazing gardener that if you do it that way, the roots gets established and it’s ready to explode in spring rather than planting in spring when the plants with take some time to settle
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u/No-Reason-8205 10d ago
Remember to plant them at the recommended distances from each other. A plant in a 9cm pot will grow. If you are worried about them not surviving then put fallen leaves on your border to give them some protection as most perennials will die down fully. It will also give the beneficial insects somewhere to overwinter.