1. The soil is warm
In the autumn, the soil in your garden is still nice and warm from the summer. Plants appreciate that as they acclimatise, because it gives them the chance to form new roots. Existing roots will also stretch out happily into the warm surrounding soil, so your plant gets nicely bedded in.
2. Drought-free
There’s plenty of rain in the autumn, so you need to give little or no water to your freshly planted plants. The risk of them drying out is actually far greater in spring.
3. A headstart
Because your plants have already been bedded in for a couple of months by the time spring arrives, they're larger and will flower more beautifully when spring rolls around. If you wait until spring, they won't have half as good a chance. When the warmer weather comes, it also means that all you have to do is set out your deckchair and enjoy the sunshine — no need for hard gardening!
4. be aware of frost
Frost-sensitive plants are the exception to the rule: they're best planted after winter. And if you want some colour on your patio to tide you over until spring, take a look at winter heather, autumn violets, Osmanthus, box, laurel, Lawson cypress, or any of these classic autumn plants.
5. OVERWINTERING PLANTS
Do you have tropicals (such as Strelitzia Nicolai or a banana plant) outside or other plants that cannot withstand the cold? Place them indoors in autumn and winter or let them overwinter in a greenhouse or orangery. If you place the plants in a greenhouse, keep a close eye on the temperature and only do this if you can ensure that it does not get colder than 5°C. In addition, it is better not to place the plant pots on the ground, but on a few pieces of insulation or on shelves.
MORE INSPIRATION
Looking for more autumn inspiration? Check out our article about warmly coloured plants for autumn, see our DIY for an autumnal wreath for your door and see our autumn dossier. You can also take a look at our Instagram and Facebook pages and tag us with the hashtag #thejoyofplants.
