Once the summer is over and the weather gets colder and more rainy, tending your garden often becomes more of a distant thought — but we really would recommend that you get gardening! Planting in autumn offers a host of benefits when it comes to the growth and flowering performance of your shrubs, trees, hedges and perennials. Read on to find out everything you need to know — and we hope this overview will encourage you to get gardening this autumn.
1. Dormant plants create the best foundation
Most plants only begin to grow in spring. So why is it advisable to plant them in autumn? There are definitely good reasons for this approach. In autumn, the sap flow within the plants gradually slows to a stop. At this stage the plants enter a kind of dormant state, and this is the moment when they are easiest to plant or replant.
2. The best soil conditions
Another factor is that the soil is still warm at the start of autumn and it retains plenty of moisture due to rainfall. The roots of shrubs, perennials, trees and hedges love warm, slightly moist soil — it allows them to develop well before winter arrives. If you wait until spring before you plant them, the roots will still need time to develop and the plants will flower later or be less robust. New roots need more water to help them develop, and in autumn they will get plenty. In spring, however, there is a greater risk of the plants becoming dehydrated, which is why regular watering is required.
3. Root development before winter
Finally, planting in autumn gives the plants time to prepare for the cold winter months. The roots have chance to become stronger in the run-up to winter, so that they can withstand the cold better once winter really begins.