Gardeners urged to plant 3 bulbs now to ensure blooms into autumn

If you want your garden to look lush and beautiful with blooms this autumn, make sure to get a head start on sowing these plants. While summeris known for its abundance of flowers and fruiting trees, it’s not the only season that gardeners should set their sights on.

There are many gorgeous plants that come to fruition in autumn and which will keep your garden looking bright and inviting – even as other plants begin to wilt. Plus, having a planting project will allow you to get the most out of your garden in the summer. So, which flowers should you start planting?

According to Gardener’s World, July is the perfect time to start planting certain bulbs. They write: “Plant autumn bulbs, including nerines, colchicums and sternbergia, in pots and borders."

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Native to South Africa, nerines produce striking lily-like blooms that can range from pink to deep orange in colour. They are known to bloom from mid-September to October, providing a burst of life as the weather begins to chill.

Note that they need to be planted in dry, sunny areas in order to thrive, so don’t place them in the shade. Luckily, these plants can grow in poor soil conditions.

Meanwhile, colchicums, otherwise known as the autumn crocus, are elegant purple flowers that typically bloom in September and October. They also provide bees and butterflies with nectar during the autumn season.

Autumn crocus is best planted in areas with dappled shade. You should grow them in large pots that enable them to be planted at the ideal depth of 8-10cm.

Although, it’s important to wear gloves while planting, as these bulbs are poisonous. Eating the leaves, flowers, tubers or seeds of the plant are fatal, which is why contact is best avoided.

You can also opt to plant sternbergia, which is sometimes referred to as the ‘winter daffodil’ due to its large, bright yellow bulbs. They also tend to grow as a carpet of flowers, making it a great plant to grow en masse.

Native to Greece and the eastern Mediterranean, sternbergia should be grown in full sun and in a location shielded from winds. It typically blooms in September and October.

Other important pieces of summer garden maintenance include deadheading certain flowers, like roses, in order to ensure continued healthy growth.

Similarly, Gardener's World advises to cut back early flowering perennials (flowers that come back year after year), such as geraniums. Equally, make sure to water your plants regularly in the heat to stop them drying out. Mulching the soil can also help retain moisture.