Get Autumn Garden Ready

The weather maybe transitioning into autumn but the gardening jobs don’t stop! In fact it is a great opportunity to makes some changes to your outdoor space! Aside from the normal jobs like gathering seeds for next year and preparing your compost, this is a great time to think about adding new features to your garden and planning for the months ahead.

Making the most of Autumn Blooms

There are some wonderful blooms that look glorious this time of year, from Rudbeckia to Dahlias. The last bit of colour as summer departs. Make the most of them. Plant them in pots dotted around your garden to add colour where it is lacking. Using planters on pedestals you can detract from plants that are no longer at their best and make a wonderful display at eye level. These plants also look impressive grouped profusely in beds for maximum impact. Or why not add some cyclamen for some cheer around the base of evergreens like bay trees in smart planters around your front door?

Our planter still looks wonderful even though the Agapanthus is on its last blooms for the season.

Weathering projects

If you want to make your cast stone or natural stone lose it’s gleaming, new appearance to blend into your garden, or maybe to match existing garden ornaments, now is the time to give the natural weathering process and helping hand. Gather fallen leaves and bury your stone in them on your compost heap or in a corner to darken the patina. Add water or leave it in the rain for a month or more, see our guide for more details.

Moon Gazing Hare statue is perfect for an autumn weathering project.

Leaves also work well to colour fountains. The Kew fountain in our show garden is beneath an oak tree, we keep a few of the fallen leaves in the water so the natural tanins gradually darken the stone as they break down in the water, creating a warm, coffee tone.

Our best selling Kew Fountain in our show garden has a coffee-coloured patina as it sits beneath an oak tree.

Another technique to remember  – while chimneys should be swept annually, usually this time of year before open fires and log burners are lit, the soot can be helpful for weathering stone. Mix it with yogurt and apply it to your stone. It should both darken the patina and  encourage moss and lichen growth.

Moss on Chilstone Staddlestone

Fountain Ready

Now is a also good time to prepare your fountain for winter. Clean it an make sure the pump and bowls are clear from leaves (if you are not weathering your fountain) so the leaves don’t clog the system.  Make sure you add a tennis ball to the water to avoid ice forming and cracking the bowl. Fountains look spectacular in snowy winters, but you want to them in tact for the rest of the year!

It’s also a good time to prepare your ground for a future fountain while the ground is still warm enough to dig easily. Make sure you have a power and water source in place and tested by a professional.

Banbury Fountain looking magical in the snow.

Spring is not so far away!

It’s clear that one way or another we are in for a difficult winter so why not plant some hope now? Daffodils are always a joy in spring but try experimenting with some more unusual bulbs. Planters with layered bulbs will ensure a colourful display for many weeks, starting with snowdrops through to Scilla and tulips. Planting bulbs in pots, urns, planters and troughs allows the flexibility to create planting space on patios and close to your property, plus you can move them when they have finished flowering or easily change the planting scheme. They also allow gardeners to control the soil conditions which can prevent bulbs rotting if  you have heavy clay soils or introduce plants that don’t thrive in your indigenous soil, like Camellias and Magnolias.

Daffodils always add cheer and give gardeners something to look forward to.

Add interest with feature pieces

As the summer blooms wither there can be gaps in your planting. As much as we try to plan our gardens for interest all year, the plants don’t always know the plan! It’s also more difficult in smaller gardens where space is at a premium. If all else fails you can add garden ornaments. Add interesting finials, statues or urns can be used in place of traditional balls. add urns along your wall coping to create additional planting space. Use statues to break up evergreen hedging. A wall mounted water feature can save space adding tranquility to transform a boring corner into a beautiful feature. A decorative urn can look imposing in a bleak winter landscape, or create a contrast to backdrop of autumn colour. Don’t be afraid to ask advice or to experiment. Most of our range can be modified or mixed with different components to get the look you desire. Simple features can make a big impact.

Chilstone’s ball finials as garden ornaments.

Chilstone’s Northbourne Finial makes a feature against a backdrop of autumn trees.

Invest in Long-lasting stone

With rainy autumn weather approaching it is a good time to invest in garden items built to last. Stone benches won’t rot or rust, cast stone birdbaths help wildlife all year round while urns and planters create a beautiful feature even when the plants have finished flowering and the landscape is bleak. Embrace it! Plan a feature to add atmosphere into a stark vista.

Stone benches are a lasting investment all year round.

Chilstone’s Pope’s Urn looks dramatic in frost.

Christmas isn’t far away!

Sorry, but it is true! Don’t fret, we have some beautiful pieces that make a perfect lasting gift. We also have a talented onsite engraver, (featured on the BBC) who can personalise your gifts to make them extra special.

Our iconic doves on our RHS Chelsea Flower Show stand.

Our new products like our Barn Owl and Moon-gazing Hare statues, designed by Seb Wylder, are very popular so get organised early to avoid disappointment! Our show gardens in the fresh air of rural Kent are open by appointment and our team look forward to welcoming you!

New product – Small Barn Owl Statue is very popular.