menu

Late summer gardening tips: how to prepare your garden for autumn and spring

4375 spiraea x double play big bang tracy 1 3e cut out proven winners

Back to overview

Late summer gardening tips: how to prepare your garden for autumn and spring

Late summer brings a unique atmosphere to the garden: warm days alternate with crisp mornings and the first autumn colours appear. This is the perfect time to take a moment to reflect on your garden: enjoy what is still blooming, but also look ahead. With these five gardening tips, you can give your garden a boost for now and later.

1. Enjoy late bloomers

Stay in the summer mood with varieties that are still in full bloom in September. Think of the Buddleja Miss series with its butterfly-attracting plumes or Caryopteris “Beyond Midnight®” with deep blue flowers. Spiraea Double Play® Doozie also surprises with its long-lasting bloom.

2. A few September chores

Remove dead flowers and give your lawn a final mow. Work compost into the borders and cover the soil with a layer of mulch, such as wood chips or autumn leaves. This will keep the soil moist for longer and provide plants with good nutrients for the coming months.

3. Plant spring flowers now

September is an excellent time to start thinking about spring. Plant shrubs from the Chaenomeles Storm series or choose Deutzia Yuki varieties; they can develop well now and, because they flower early, you will soon be able to enjoy beautiful spring flowers in your garden.

4. Provide animals with a safe place

Create a quiet corner in your garden with leaves or branches where hedgehogs, insects and birds can find shelter. Leave dead stems in place: they provide shelter for insects such as ladybirds and food for birds. This will turn your garden into a lively refuge.

5. Put autumn bloomers in the spotlight

Shrubs such as Callicarpa PearlGlam® with its striking purple berries or Viburnum Oh Canada® with its leaves changing colour from intense red to yellow now provide colour and attract birds. Give them a prominent place in your garden for an atmospheric autumn.

With these tips, your late summer garden will remain a pleasant place to enjoy and you will immediately lay a strong foundation for a colourful spring.

Related blogs

hydrangea serr. flair flavours blueberry cheesecake mak20 7 pw
Hydrangea, Summer
The ultimate summer guide for your hydrangea
It's the height of summer – the time when hydrangeas are at their most beautiful. With their exuberant flowers, long flowering period and versatility, it's no surprise that they are a favourite among gardening enthusiasts. But how do you keep them looking their best during the hot days? With these care tips, you can give your hydrangeas everything they need.
Read more
buddleja chip ruby chip smnbdd 4e proven winners
Pollinator friendly, Summer
7 summer bloomers for a nectar paradise full of butterflies and bees
Want a garden full of colour and life? Then choose summer bloomers that are not only beautiful to look at, but also attract bees, bumblebees and butterflies. With the right shrubs, you can create a garden that buzzes with activity. These 7 Proven Winners® varieties are not only richly flowering, but also real nectar and pollen magnets.
Read more
abelia mos. sweet emotion smnamds 2 proven winners flower foliage
Inspiration, Autumn
Yes, autumn is here!
The days are getting shorter and the sunlight takes on that special warm glow. The garden is slowly starting to get ready for the approaching autumn. Many plants are getting past their prime and the summer bloomers are putting on their last show. Yet this does not have to mean that it is done with colour in your garden. On the contrary, in autumn you can still expect a great show of colour from plants that are at their best in September and October. These are our favourite shrubs for autumn.
Read more
punica gran. pompommy smnpgmf 9 proven winners
Inspiration
Create a special garden with special varieties
Would you like something different than the average garden plant? There are many ways to turn your garden into something extraordinary and planting a special variety is one of them. With unusual plants, you can create a unique atmosphere or appearance in your garden. These may be plants with remarkable leaves, a striking flower colour or an unusual inflorescence.
Read more
valkplant showtuin winter 5
Inspiration, Winter, Gardening tips
Prepare your garden for winter: 5 tips for a healthy and wildlife-friendly winter garden
November is the perfect month to prepare your garden for winter. With a few smart adjustments, you will not only protect your plants, but also provide a nice shelter for wildlife such as birds, hedgehogs and insects. And plant evergreen and winter flowering shrubs this month, for a garden that brings colour all year round. With these five tips, your garden will stay healthy, colourful and full of life, even in the cold winter months.
Read more
hydrangea quercifolia gatsby pink img 6061
Inspiration, Hydrangea
The enchanting Hydrangea: for spectacular summer blooms in your garden
Welcome to the enchanting world of the Hydrangea! This beautiful shrub has great appeal. With its lush flowers and vibrant colours, the Hydrangea is definitely an asset to your garden, patio or balcony. Find out here why Hydrangeas have such a charm.
Read more