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July is the ideal time to start laying the foundations for post-summer colour
By July, gardeners finally see their hard work from earlier in the year come to fruition as beds and borders stand in full bloom. But while it's tempting to rest on your laurels, it's time to start thinking about the season ahead.
If you want your garden to look its best year-round, now is the opportune moment to get started on planting autumn-flowering bulbs. Come September, when the last summer blooms start fading, they will push through the ground, rewarding you with late-season colour and interest.
From cyclamen to autumn crocus, there's a plethora of plants to choose from, and many are surprisingly easy to take care of. Below, two gardening experts share their favourite varieties to plant now.
'If you're after something that flowers slightly earlier, then this plant is perfect,' says Chris Bonnett, founder of online garden centre Gardening Express.
If planted now, cyclamen, which thrives in the shade, will burst into bloom between August and October. 'Their beautiful marbled leaves will also provide interest all throughout winter,' he adds.
Crocus sativus, or saffron crocus, flowers around October and November and brings gorgeous lilac blooms to your garden.
'Ideally, you’ll want to grow it in full sun and ensure you have excellent drainage, especially during the wintertime when soil stays damp for longer,' Chris advises. 'During dry weather, it’ll need a light watering.'
This towering beauty can still be planted now, but you should do so quickly, before the window closes.
'July is the absolute latest that you can plant gladioli bulbs,' warns Richard Barker, a horticultural expert and commercial director of LBS Horticulture. 'If planted any later, they will not flower in time before frosts.'
Plant your bulbs in a sunny, well-draining spot. 'Water well during their first growing season, and stake them before their flower spikes emerge. If you are growing a tender variety, you may need to lift the corms to overwinter them somewhere frost-free.'
Also known as autumn daffodil, Sternbergia lutea brings a cheerful splash of sunshine yellow to your borders between September and October, just as other plants begin to fade.
'Although they are best planted in August, planting autumn daffodils in July gives them more time to settle into the soil before they flower,' says Richard.
'They need to be planted in a location where they will have full sun, as the bulbs thrive in hot conditions through summer. They should be planted as soon as possible after purchasing so they do not dry out or sprout in storage.'
Nerines are an often overlooked autumn perennial that adds plenty of interest in the shape of their lily-like petals.
'Gardeners who are looking for something to add to their borders should consider this nerine bowdenii,' says Chris. 'Its spider-like pink flowers brighten up borders from September to November. Be sure to plant them in full sun and well-drained soil.'
Looking for something a little out of the ordinary? Then Eucomis bicolour – or pineapple lily, as it is also called – might be just the thing.
'It has unusual flower spikes that resemble the body of a pineapple and is topped with bright green leaves,' adds Chris. 'You can expect this one to flower between August and September.'
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