Even in November, gardens can still be awash with colour

IT’S getting to that time of the year where the nights are drawing in and we start to see Christmas treats appearing in the shops.

Looking around the garden at Harlow Carr, we can still see lots of autumn colour. It’s been an amazing year for autumnal colour as we had a rather wet spring, combined with plenty of sunshine, allowing shrubs and trees to produce plenty of sugars, which in turn gives us amazing colour when the plants reabsorb the sugars from the foliage in autumn.

In addition to the oranges, bronzes and gold colours we can see in the tree line, the Main Borders are filled with herbaceous plants which are still holding on. Even after a cold snap, the grasses in the Main Borders look spectacular: Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea ‘Skyracer’ and Calamgrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’, the feather reed grass, both look stunning moving about in the wind and reflected in the autumn sunlight. The grasses have turned from a lush green in summer into bright gold as they die back for winter. Standing tall, they add structure and a real warmth to the border, whilst also providing shelter for wildlife during the cold winter nights.

Another fine example of colour at this time of year are Cornus, commonly known as dogwood. Different varieties offer different colour choices, like the deep crimson of C. alba ‘Siberica’, the orange of C. sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ and the stunning yellow C. sericea ‘Flaviramea’. These shrubs stand at a height of around 1.5-2m tall, giving a strong architectural balance to any border with the thicket of thin brightly-coloured stems. The younger vigorous stems are more colourful, so yearly pruning is advantageous. Some, like the ‘Midwinter Fire’, can be cut back to the ground each year once established. Others may need to be done on a cycle to allow the plant to recover sufficiently. This should be carried out in late winter to early spring, around February/March. This will allow young vigorous stems to come through and grow through the summer months, and look their very best the following winter.

A popular tree for winter interest is the native Betula pendula, or silver birch. With its white peeling bark, the silver birch is an attractive choice for the winter garden, but make sure you don’t confuse it with the Himalayan birch, Betula utilis var. jacquemontii, which is the

specimen with the truly striking white trunk which glistens in the winter light, adding beauty and interest to even the dullest of borders.

My all-time favourite tree, however, has to be Acer griseum. It’s a relatively small tree growing to around 10m tall. This has a copper to chestnut brown papery bark, and will peel and flake with age, catching the sun and highlighting its glory. It also has a very attractive leaf which creates lovely dappled shade in the heat of the summer. The leaves then turn orange and fiery red in the autumn, meaning this tree will give you interest all year round and would make a perfect addition to any garden, no matter what the size.

So wrap up warm and come out for a walk here at Harlow Carr or another local garden, and enjoy the spectacular colour on show in the amazing autumnal light.

Jobs for the week

* Keep removing leaf debris from lawns

* Plant spring flowering bulbs

* Prune roses to prevent wind rock

* Raise containers onto feet to stop waterlogging

* Insulate glasshouse to protect over wintering plants

With thanks to Craig Woodhouse, Horticulturist at RHS Garden Harlow Carr

DIARY DATES

Until 27 November: Bath House Gallery – Christmas Crafts Showcase If you’re looking for unusual presents that you can’t find on the high street, pop down to Harlow Carr’s Bath House Gallery for a Christmas gift with a difference – from jewellery, scarves and hand bags to children’s baking kits and Christmas decorations. Normal garden admission.

November - March: Winter Walk 10-Year Anniversary Harlow Carr celebrates the 10-year anniversary of its Winter Walk this year. To mark the occasion, 5,000 irises have been planted and will bloom as the garden moves into early spring. Adorned with daphnes, witch hazels, birch trees and maples, the striking stem colours and variety of forms, textures and scents make this a must-see from November through until March. Normal garden admission.