Blog: Pep up borders with flowers until the first frosts
If your borders run out of steam by July, it’s time to invest in some late summer flowering perennials to give your garden colour right until the first frosts.
The long border in my garden suffers every year. It’s at its peak from early May to the end of June, with Chaenomeles japonica Jet Trail, Rheum palmatum (ornamental rhubarb), foxgloves, sweet rocket, Welsh poppies, early lilies in pots, late tulips, the huge Weigela variegata all in bloom and the freshness of new foliage.
However, the only late summer bloomers are all at one end. Buddlejas (one purple, one dwarf Buzz in white), bronze fennel, a pink everlasting sweet pea and a Kniphofia (red hot poker). If you like a tropical look, tender plants are excellent for filling gaps. Find out about autumn plants too.
Late summer flowering perennials – Look for an instant impact
This year, I decided to do some instant-impact gardening. The three tall flared zinc containers were the key – I ditched their ageing bouquet lilies and placed the pots in gaps at the front of the border, surrounded by grasses, Rodgersia and golden marjoram in flower. They are tall, so they stand much higher than the surrounding edging plants, making a statement before they are even planted up.
It’s always worth a trip to your local garden centre at this time of year. It’s a quiet time for them, and they’ll be promoting late summer flowering plants at their peak. I was able to pick up exactly what I wanted.
There’s the vibrant Rudbeckia Goldsturm, an old late summer standby with intense yellow petals and a dark brown eye. I also bought the newer Echinacea SunSeekers Pink. It’s a compact variety with non-fading pink flowers surrounding an orange-brown centre.
Don’t go for subtlety!
Yes, they clash and aren’t subtle – exactly what I was looking for, to jump out of the sea of ageing late summer green from a distance, especially in the evening.
It may be ‘not the done thing’ to put one of each into the pots, but I love the colour clash, and the plants are big enough to pull it off. By repeating the effect along the border, the eye travels along to the next ‘punctuation’ point, missing the masses of plain green.
With regular deadheading, Rudbeckia and Echinacea will keep going until the first frosts – well worth the investment. As hardy perennials, they’ll last the winter to do the same next year, or can be transplanted directly into the garden.
A wonderful source of plants is www.bethchatto.co.uk. She is my gardening hero and do get hold of her inspiring books.
