At the height of autumn, there is so much still to enjoy in the garden. Many of the late-flowering perennials which have become so popular in recent years, such as rudbeckia and helenium (pictured below), will continue until the first severe frost and if we are lucky, there will be glorious displays of colour from trees and shrubs.

In fact, now is a good time to have a look at what colours you like and consider if you have room for something in your garden – there are specimens to suit every space.

Here at Standen we have a particularly good autumn display of Japanese maples, many of which were sent back to the gardens from Japan by the Beale family when they went on a world tour in the early 20th century. These trees now form a lovely tapestry of colours and shapes on the hillside above the house from spring until autumn. Shrubs with good autumn colour which will suit the smaller garden include vaccinium, which always has good red foliage, and euonymous or spindle, a wonderful native plant.

This is an ideal time to plant trees and shrubs, whilst the soil is still warm and moist, to allow roots to establish before the worst of the winter. Ensure that anything you put has a decent planting hole enriched with compost and mycorrhizae.

If you have particularly poor or compacted soil, it is worth really breaking through the compaction, otherwise the roots will not be inclined to venture out of the newly improved soil, and the planting hole may end up as a sump, just holding water through the winter, meaning the plant could rot off.

Also this month, ensure you keep autumn leaves off of any lawns or the grass may rot, and bring inside any tender plants you wish to keep, including those growing in pots which can be kept over winter in a frost-free greenhouse.

This is often one of the busiest times of the year in the garden, but the invigorating exercise can be the perfect antidote to the shorter, cooler days.

  • Standen, West Hoathly Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 4NE, Tel: 01342 323029, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/standen
  • House, garden, restaurant and shop open every day from Feb 16 to Dec 24 (weekends only from Nov 9 to 24)