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Planting next year’s blooms right now, while they’re a fraction of the price
Some plant prices plummet in autumn, so here’s what to buy now to get PETALS APLENTY for pennies!
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£4.50/ 1L pot langthorns.com
Want to make your garden blooming lovelier in 2024 without splashing the cash? Planting next year’s blooms this autumn not only saves you serious money, it’ll give you bigger and better plants – and so more flowers – come summer.
Warm soil and cooler air temperatures mean there’s much less heat stress on the plants once you plant them, so they’ll quickly settle in and spend their time growing roots before the first frosts arrive. They may not look like much planted in the garden right now, but next year you’ll have strong established plants that will grow faster and be more resilient to the stresses that summer brings. And because these plants have already bloomed this year, many garden centres and online retailers will slice the prices to clear their shelves of last season’s products.
So here’s our top 10 blooming beauties to plant right now that will bring you a brilliant return on your investment. We’ve chosen our very favourite varieties to find if you’re shopping online, but you’ll find the best bargains on an out-of-the-way shelf in your local garden centre, and any variety of our easy-grow edit will be a winner! But before you load up your shopping cart, a word to the wise: it’s only a bargain if you have the right spot for it to thrive in!
#1 CHARMING ASTRANTIA
There isn’t a lovelier perennial that’s perfect for lazy gardeners than the starry-flowered astrantia, also called masterwort. It looks fabulous with any planting style and quietly captivates with its delicate beauty.
From pale pinks and whites to deeper shades of burgundy and purple, it’s a timeless addition to your garden, and these long-lasting plants will reward your investment for years to come. Astrantia prefers dappled shade and soil that doesn’t dry out so add lots of compost when planting to help retain moisture. From late autumn, very little of the plant will be visible above the soil but don’t worry, it’ll burst back into life in spring.
£5.95/ 9cm pot proctorsnursery.co.uk
£6.50/ 1L pot dorsetperennials.co.uk
