September is a Great Time to Plant Your Suffolk Garden
If you think the main gardening season finishes with summer, September may change your mind.
Early autumn is one of the best times to add new plants to a Suffolk garden. The soil is still warm from summer, daytime temperatures are cooler and rainfall usually starts to increase.
That combination gives new roots time to establish before winter.
It is a particularly good time to plant trees, shrubs, hardy perennials and climbers. If the hot, dry summer has left gaps in your borders, September also gives you the chance to rethink what you grow and choose plants better suited to your garden.
At Woolpit Nurseries, between Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, you can choose plants in person and ask our experienced team what will work in your soil, available space and growing conditions.
Why Plant in September?
Plants put a lot of energy into establishing their roots during autumn.
The ground retains warmth long after air temperatures start to fall. At the same time, plants lose less moisture through their leaves than they would during hot summer weather.
That means less stress on a newly planted tree, shrub or perennial.
A plant that establishes a healthy root system during autumn is also better prepared when temperatures rise again next spring and summer.
There is another practical advantage. You can see exactly what your garden needs.
Perhaps a border lost its colour too early. A shrub has become too large for its position. An exposed area struggled during the dry weather. Or you have a bare corner that has been bothering you all summer.
Take a photograph and a few measurements before visiting us. We can help you find plants that fit the space rather than leaving you to make an expensive guess.
What Can You Plant in a Suffolk Garden in September?
Trees
Trees planted now have time to start establishing roots before they need to support a full canopy of leaves next year.
Think carefully about the eventual size of the tree rather than choosing purely by how it looks at the nursery.
At Woolpit Nurseries we stock a wide selection of ornamental trees and fruit trees, including larger specimens if you want to create more immediate impact.
Tell us roughly how much space you have, whether the position is sunny or shaded and what you want the tree to do.
You might want blossom, autumn colour, fruit, privacy or simply a beautiful focal point.
Shrubs
Shrubs can add structure, flowers, foliage, berries, fragrance and screening. They can also fill difficult areas where seasonal bedding would need replacing every year.
Woolpit Nurseries stocks more than 180 varieties of shrubs, giving you plenty of choice for different garden conditions.
If you are not sure what you need, tell us about the position. Full sun or shade makes a difference. So does soil type, available space and how much maintenance you want to do.
Hardy Perennials
Where are the gaps?
Which areas stopped flowering too early?
Where could you add another layer of height or colour?
Hardy perennials return year after year and can provide colour from spring through to autumn when varieties with different flowering periods are planted together.
We grow and stock more than 360 perennial varieties, so you do not have to settle for the handful of plants commonly found in supermarkets and smaller seasonal displays.
Look for plants that complement what is already growing rather than simply choosing several plants that happen to be flowering on the day you visit.
Our team can help you put together combinations for your particular border.
Climbers
Have you got a bare fence, wall, pergola or trellis?
September can be a good time to plant many climbers while the soil remains warm.
The right climber can provide flowers, fragrance, foliage or screening without taking up the amount of ground space needed by a large shrub.
Ask us about the position before buying. A climber for a sunny south-facing wall may be completely wrong for a shady fence.
After a Dry Summer, Think About What Worked
Recent hot, dry weather has given Suffolk gardeners a useful test of their planting.
Some plants sailed through it. Others needed constant attention.
Before replacing anything that struggled, think about why.
Was it planted in the wrong position?
Did the soil dry out very quickly?
Was it competing with established trees or hedges?
Would a plant that naturally tolerates hotter, drier conditions be a better choice?
Choosing the right plant for the position can reduce the amount of watering and maintenance needed in future summers.
Bring photographs of problem areas when you visit Woolpit Nurseries. It is much easier for us to suggest suitable plants when we can see what you are working with.
Don’t Put the Watering Can Away Yet
Autumn rain helps, but newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials still need your attention.
Water thoroughly after planting and check the soil regularly during dry periods.
A quick splash that only wets the surface is not enough. You want water to reach the root area.
Plants in containers need particular attention. Pots can dry surprisingly quickly, even when September days feel cooler.
Keep watering newly planted specimens until they have had time to establish.
Add Colour That Lasts Beyond Summer
September does not have to mean the end of colour in your garden.
Late flowering perennials can keep borders colourful and provide valuable food for bees and other pollinating insects.
Shrubs with colourful foliage, berries or autumn leaf colour can take over as summer flowers fade.
Ornamental grasses can add movement and texture and continue looking good as the seasons change.
Visiting the nursery in September lets you see plants that are performing well at this time of year rather than trying to choose everything in spring.
Plant Now for Next Year’s Garden
A little work this autumn can make a noticeable difference next year.
You could:
- fill gaps in established borders
- add a tree for blossom or autumn colour
- plant shrubs for structure and screening
- introduce more late flowering perennials
- replace plants that struggled in hot, dry conditions
- add climbers to bare walls and fences
- create areas that provide more food for bees and butterflies
You do not need to redesign the whole garden.
Start with one border, one troublesome corner or one plant you have wanted for years.
Visit Woolpit Nurseries for Autumn Plants and Advice
Woolpit Nurseries is an independent, family-run plant nursery in Suffolk, conveniently located between Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket.
We grow many of our plants ourselves and carefully select others that we believe will perform well in local gardens.
Come and walk around the nursery, compare plants and ask questions.
If you need help choosing, bring a photograph of your garden and a rough measurement of the area you want to plant. Tell us whether it gets sun or shade and what you would like to achieve.
We’ll help you narrow down the choices.
