In large estate gardens, shrubs and trees, especially those planted near water, can be combined to create dramatically colourful vistas in autumn. With planning, a similar effect can be achieved in a small garden – read on to discover how to plant an autumn border.
Soil types for autumn borders
Many of the finest autumn displays – for instance, the lakeside colour at Sheffield Park, in Sussex – flourish on lime-free soils. Although gardeners that garden on neutral to limey soils may not be able to grow the full range, there are several autumn-colour shrubs that will grow if they are given a moist root run with leaf mould or if very well rotted manure is added to the soil. In this planting scheme, some of the more tolerant lime haters are combined with shrubs that grow on a wide range of other soil types.
Autumn colours
While in larger parks, the scale of the landscape allows the colours to be seen from a distance against an expanse of sky or water, in a small garden setting, the colours will usually have greater impact when seen against evergreens. Here, these are represented by the dense columnar forms of Eucryphia, a fastigiate yew and a crisply variegated holly.
The parchment coloured plumes of the pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana ‘Pumila’, a short growing variety), add movement and help break up the areas of concentrated colour.
If you want to mix a few perennials into the tapestry of shrubs, choose asters, with their vivid autumn flowers in shades of pink, mauve and purple. Pop in supports if necessary to stop the flower stems from flopping when they’re in full bloom. Unobtrusive metal supports from Muntons will do the job, and are good-looking in their own right. Add further detail at ground level with an underplanting of autumn-flowering bulbs that will emerge through the fallen leaves.
How to plant an autumn border
- Choose a place that is sheltered and protected from strong winds. Most of these shrubs need their roots to be cool and moist, so avoid shallow soils and hot spots.
- These are mainly large growing shrubs and they need a space that suits their scale and room to develop. Parrotia persica develops into a broad, spreading shrub, eventually a small tree, and Eucryphia x nymansensis, though narrow in outline, will reach a height of 4-5m+ (13-17ft+).
- A position that allows the shrubs to be backlit at some point in the day will add to the visual effect, illuminating their smouldering colours at this time of year.
- The shrubs can be planted out any time between autumn and spring, although in cold winters it may be safer to wait until spring before planting out the eucryphia because it can be susceptible to frost damage.
- Plant the cyclamen out in clusters as soon as they are available in early autumn and bury the tubers no more than 2cm (3⁄4in) deep in the shade of the larger shrubs.
- Grow the autumn crocus in drifts at a depth of twice the height of the bulb.
Plant list
Shrubs
A 1 x Parrotia persica. Ht/Sp 4m+ x 3m+ (13ft+ x 10ft+), leaves turning red/orange/gold
B 1 x Euonymus europaeus ‘Red Cascade’. Ht/Sp 2.5m x 1.5m (8ft x 5ft), leaves turning rosy red
C 1 x Ilex aquifolium ‘Madame Briot’. Ht/Sp 1.8m x 1.2m (6ft x 4ft), leaves green speckled gold (evergreen)
D 1 x Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’. Ht/Sp 1.2m x 60cm (4ft x 2ft), leaves dark green (evergreen)
E 1 x Cotinus coggygria. Ht/Sp 3m x 2m (10ft x 6ft 6in), leaves turning yellow.
F 1 x Eucryphia x nymansensis ‘Nymansay’. Ht/Sp 3m+ x 1m (10ft+ x 3ft), leaves glossy, dark green (evergreen)
G 1 x Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Dissectum’. Ht/Sp 60cm x 1.2m (2ft x 4ft), leaves turn bronze/yellow.
H 1 x Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii ‘Profusion’. Ht/Sp 2m x 1.5m (6ft 6in x 5ft), leaves turning amethyst.
I 2 x Cortaderia selloana ‘Pumila’. Ht/Sp 1.2m x 1m (4ft x 3ft), cream flower plumes (evergreen)
J 1 x Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’. Ht/Sp 1.8m x 1.5m (6ft x 5ft), leaves and stems turning orange/yellow
K 1 x Acer palmatum ‘Osakazuki’. Ht/Sp 1.5m x 1.5m (5ft x 5ft), leaves turning scarlet
L 3 x Ceratostigma willmottianum. Ht/Sp 80cm x 60cm (2ft 6in x 2ft), leaves turning purple/red
Bulbs
M 25 x Crocus sativus. Ht 10cm (4in), flowers lilac
N 25 x Crocus kotschyanus. Ht 12cm (43⁄4in), violet
O 25 x Cyclamen hederifolium. Ht 12cm (43⁄4in), flowers pink or white
P 25 x Cyclamen cilicium. Ht 10cm (4in), pink or white
Illustrations by Gill Tomblin
For more advice on making your garden look good in autumn, click here.
More on how to plant an autumn border: best plants for autumn.
