Autumn glory

Above: Acers offer spectacular choices for autumn colour

Above: Berries add an extra element

Above: feathery maple foliage

Above: many perennials continue well into autumn

Above: Phormium and grasses combine gracefully

Above: rustic steps blend into the setting

Autumn colour brings a new dimension to the garden. The season may be one of mists and quiet beauty, or intensely rich colours set against clear blue skies. Although leaf colour is greatest when the days are sunny and the nights frosty, by planting a wide range of plants on different levels, you can ensure a final crescendo of colour as the season draws to an end.
 
Careful combining
Make the most of the autumnal possibilities by considering the concepts of scale and combination. The scope of autumn foliage, berries, seedheads and flowers is vast – from flame reds to deep plums, vivid purples and candy pinks or bronze, gold and burnt orange hues. As well as stunning deciduous trees, which draw the eye upwards, consider underplantings of shrubs, vines and perennials that provide subtle harmonies or striking contrasts of vibrant tones.
 
Burnished display
Mother nature ends the growing season with a flurry of colour, so it is well worth stepping out into the crisp air and paying a visit to nurseries, gardens or woodlands at this time of the year for a little bit of inspiration. MacPennys of Bransgore combines all three and is brimming with a chorus of autumnal colour from mid October to mid November. This nursery has an extensive range of plants for sale and the adjoining woodland walk garden provides a living catalogue.

Penny’s worth
Mr Douglas Lowndes bought the nursery around 1934 from a lady who grew drought-resistant plants and sold them for a penny each. Her name was Marcia Ashley-Corbett, hence the name MacPennys. The tradition of growing alpines and herbaceous plants continued until the Second World War when the nursery was given over to growing vegetables and other produce for the war effort.
Then in 1951 Mr Lowndes bought some adjacent land to the nursery and created a woodland garden from an old derelict gravel pit. All the early plantings were mostly ericaceous with unusual trees and shrubs and an abundance of acers, camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas and heathers.
 
Family tree
The family tradition has continued, and the nursery is now owned by the late Douglas Lowndes’ son and his wife, Tim and Vivien, and their son Simon.
As with many gardens, the great storms of January 1990 caused much damage and many of the large euchryphias and embrothreums were destroyed and have since been replanted. 
Today the canopy of trees protects an array of ferns and shade-loving plants while in the open glades grasses and perennials thrive. Maintaining and renewing the garden is an intrinsic part of the nursery.  The meandering paths allow the chance to see the plants growing to maturity and are enjoyed by customers and visitors. In addition MacPennys has been opening for the National Gardens Scheme for 50 years, attracting an even wider audience.

Test your knowledge

Where does the leaf colour
come from?

• As autumn arrives deciduous trees and shrubs provide shows of colour gradually.
• Chlorophyll, the green pigment used     by plants for manufacturing their food, breaks down from the leaves. This allows other pigments to show through.
  This is beneficial to the plants as waste products are deposited in leaves before they fall and it is also the perfect opportunity for plants to shed any pests.
• High light intensities cause sugars to accumulate in leaves leading to richer reds, blues and purples.
• Overcast weather and shade will lead to paler colour.
• Ideal conditions for colour are sunny days with cold, crisp nights.
• Many of the best plants for autumn leaf colour prefer acid soils.

Tips for an autumnal display

• Combine leaves, fruits and flowers.
• Vary the scale with large and
small plants.
• Plan harmonies or contrasts.
• The colours have greater impact against evergreen shrubs and trees.
• Underplant with
autumn-flowering bulbs.
• Hard to beat shrubs and perennials include viburnum, euonymus, cotinus, cornus, cratageus, vitis, fuchsia, chrysanthemums, salvias, ornamental grasses and phormiums.

Top 10 autumn trees
Acer
Amelanchier
Prunus
Nyssa
Fraxinus
Parrotia
Gymnociadus
Liquidambar
Stewartia
Quercus