Planting hardy plants in the autumn

If it is recommended to plant trees and shrubs in the autumn, flowering plants and plants grown for their decorative foliage are no exception. They allow you to gain time and above all to enjoy a more beautiful garden, and this as soon as winter !

Planting hardy plants in the autumn
Planting hardy plants in the autumn
Phlomis 'herba venti'

In priority: The dromedary-plants

By "dromedary-plant", we mean all the plants that grow well without the need to be watered in summer. You know them inevitably as Lavender is one of them but it is not the only one. Cistus, Phlomis (Jerusalem Sage), strawberry trees, Perovskia (Russian Sage) and all the Mediterranean plants belong to this category, at least the ones which are not sensitive to harsh cold. These plants will benefit from the abundance of rain during winter and will be well prepared to brave the dry periods of next year. Do not add any compost or manure as they hate it, especially in the autumn. As for the dromedary plants which are not cold resistant like Mimosa, Oleander or the Myrtle, they will benefit from being planted out in the spring.

Planting hardy plants in the autumn
Planting Fern is easy when the weather cools down.
Planting hardy plants in the autumn
Dwarf Lilyturf (Ophiopogon) can be planted even if autumn is well on the way.

They grow in winter

Another category of interesting plants to plant in the autumn is the one which flowers in winter. Dwarf Lilyturf (Ophiopogon), Helleborus, Heuchera and blue Festuca are the main ones but you also need to add to this list the winter-flowering shrubs. Hostas and Ferns also give good results at this time of year as they are not bad-weather sensitive. Besides, all of these plants harmonize beautifully! At planting time, enrich the soil with a good potting compost or compost as their roots are going to establish straightaway.

Planting hardy plants in the autumn
Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)

At the beginning of spring

It is not only the flowering bulbs which announce the end of winter. A pretty range of early- flowering plants like the Dicentra Spectabilis (Bleeding heart), Doronicums (Leopard’s bane), small Anemones and Periwinkles, not to cite them all thrive as soon as the end of February, depending on the years and the local climate. These must be planted quickly in the autumn if you want to enjoy them the following spring. Enrich the soil with compost, turning it over to incorporate it well. Make a mark so as not to damage the young shoots in the spring!

In cold areas (mountains or harsh climates)

The plants mentioned above are highly hardy and you can grow them without a risk even above 600m of altitude or in areas which have cold winters. The only precaution is to cover the crowns with a layer of dead leaves. Snow does not damage plants contrary to a harsh cold especially if the plants are bare. A blanket is needed in cold weather!

M. Jean-Michel GROULT
 
Credits: Franck Boucourt (unless otherwise noted)
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