IT ASTER BE AUTUMN

PERENNIALS BRING PLENTY OF COLOUR AS WE SAY FAREWELL TO THE SUMMER

- DIARMUID GAVIN

WITH such recent hot spells, it's hard to believe autumn is upon us.

However in our climate, seasons can melt into each other and later flowering perennials can bring plenty of greenery and colour to the garden, often right up until first frosts.

September is often a beautiful month and it's also a perfect time to plant herbaceous perennials as the soil is still warm. Keep them well watered during dry spells, and they will be nicely settled in by the time daylight hours shorten and there's a chill in the air.

Asters are sometimes known as the frost flowers due to their ability to keep flowering right up until the first frost.

Their name derives from the Greek and Latin words for 'star' referring to the distinctive shape of the flowers.