How to make your garden special this November?

Not long left now until the dreaded ‘C’ word….! But before we all get bogged down in preparations for Christmas, there is still time to enjoy some late colour in your garden. At this time of year, many deciduous shrubs will be on the verge of losing their leaves for the winter. In the process, some produce stunning foliage colour which can be almost as good as the blooms themselves.

To begin with, the Spindle Bush (Euonymus) is a great choice for the middle or back of a mixed border. During the summer, the plant can be fairly non-descript – but bright crimson leaves in October really stand out from the crowd. Staying with the red-leaved theme, Smoke Bush (Cotinus) plants also fit the bill. These already have burgundy leaves through the spring and summer (a great contrast with golden leaved plants too), but really come alive late in the season with vibrant red hues.

Of course, many trees start to lose their leaves at this time of year, and colour is easy to find. Trees like the Mountain Ash (Sorbus) with their ferny foliage look attractive in the spring and summer anyway, but heading to the winter, bright pink and red colours take over for a great late show – in addition, most of the Sorbus family will give brightly coloured berries. The ever popular Japanese Maples (Acer varieties) are also great for late autumn/early winter colour, with coppery orange tints on the leaves before they fall for the winter. Don’t forget that Acers also look very architectural even without their leaves. For those gardens with larger, more established maples, try fixing some small outdoor ‘led’ style lights onto the branches to give interest on the long winter nights.

As we hit the end of the year, most people turn their attention to Christmas. Next month, we’ll take a look at selecting the perfect REAL Christmas Tree and have plenty of tips to keep your tree looking good into the New Year.

The G-Scapes Plant Centre Christmas Shop is now open, with a large range of traditional Christmas Decorations, Lights, Home-made wreaths and garlands. Christmas Trees are available from the last weekend in November.

Byron Lewis is Retail Manager at G-Scapes Plant Centre at Curborough Craft Centre, Lichfield. 01543 401032. Click here for more information on G-Scapes...