How to get a gorgeous garden for autumn

With the exciting London Design Festival well under way (so much to see, so little time!) I’ve been swamped with invites to previews, interviews, requests to film, after party here, after party there – and KLC School of Design was no exception.

 So I’m meeting with the renowned interior design academy in London next Monday. Sandwiched between LDF shows Decorex International and Focus at Chelsea – busy day!

So, in anticipation, Sarah Meek from KLC has provided mydeco.com with expert tips on how to keep your garden bright and beautiful as autumn darkens the skies and dampens your flowerbeds:

Although the days are getting shorter there is still so much to enjoy in your garden, terrace or patio. Whether your green space is small or large, with some attention and a few creative accessories it can continue to charm throughout the autumn and into winter. Here are my top tips:

Love the Late Bloomers

If some plants still haven’t bloomed, make sure you do not trim budding bushes but try to create space for them. KLC garden design tutor Carlene Crowe suggests trying the new compact Verbena ‘Lollipop’ (Verbena bonariensis). She says: ‘As long-flowering as its rangy parent, it grows a lot closer to the ground and can be interspersed among other plants in the border to extend the season.’

Artichokes for Art

The vegetable garden can still produce well into the autumn months and these artichokes have a sculptural quality, so not only do they look great but they can also be a tasty addition to the menu when harvested later in the season.

Add Interest

If you have a small garden and want to add interest for the winter months take this advice from KLC tutor Roz Patterson: ‘Plants need to work harder in a small garden so it is important to have a strong backbone of evergreens, interesting shapes or wonderful barks to carry the garden through the winter.’

Twinkling Twilight

As the days get shorter and evenings arrive earlier the low light and cooler temperatures don’t have to mean less interest in the garden. Now is an excellent time to enjoy windlights and candles and add another dimension that can be enjoyed in the garden or from within on chillier evenings.

Highlight the Herbs

Even if your herbs are bunched together in a small space, by placing a few little lights amongst the leaves the textures and combination of greens looks lovely in the evening.

Mirror Image

When adding mirrors to your garden, experiment by taking a mirror from the inside outside. By hanging a mirror outdoors you can multiply light inside. Alternatively, when there are walls in the garden and greenery is limited use a mirror to reflect foliage and create green space. You could always position a mirror to reflect the candles.

Bright Berries

For those of you who prefer shrubs like Pyracantha, Cotoneaster and Callicarpa, now is the time to sit back and gaze at those gorgeous orange, red or purple berries - the birds will be drawn to them too.

Text and images (except Verbena) accredited to Sarah Meek, KLC School of Design