Brilliant flowers for autumn

NATURAL COLOURS: THIS MONTH IS A GOOD TIME TO PLANT PETUNIAS OF ALL KINDS

- Alice Spenser-Higgs

Thanks to all the rain, autumn gardens are still looking lush and green, and a splash of autumn colour will give them a lift, especially if May delivers on crisp, sunny days.

May is a good time to plant petunias of all kinds, calibrachoa in pots or hanging baskets, and indigenous Nemesia as well as sedums and other succulents that thrive and show off their brilliant colours in the cooler, dry months.

In the aftermath of all the rain, the soil is still very wet and compact, which means less air in the soil and reduced drainage. For new plants to thrive dig in as much dry organic material as you can; compost, dried leaves, or milled bark so that the soil is well aerated, spongy and light and drains easily.