Often, it’s because too much of the planting does its best work
in summer. Once the flowers fade, there’s very little left to
carry the garden through.
A garden can still have colour, shape and something worth looking
at in the quieter months. The secret is planning what takes over.
Planting designer · Over 30 years’ experience
RTÉ and national media contributor
WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING?
The flowers finish. The garden doesn’t have to.
If flowers are the only point of interest in a plant or a garden,
you are relying on a finite period of time. That might be a few
short weeks with a magnolia, or a much longer display with
hydrangeas and roses. Either way, the flowering season eventually
comes to an end.
For winter, I look at the other qualities a plant brings:
structure, texture, evergreen foliage, beautiful stems and bark,
and the colour of berries. Together, these can keep a garden
interesting long after its flowers have faded.
01
Everything peaks together
A bed full of summer flowers can become a largely empty space
when those plants die back.
Plan a succession of interest, so one group of plants takes over
from another.
02
The structure disappears
Without a framework of shrubs, trees or evergreen planting, the
garden can lose its shape as well as its colour.
Give the garden a backbone that still reads clearly from the
house in winter.
03
The tidy-up goes too far
Cutting every perennial back in autumn removes seedheads and
stems that could still look beautiful and shelter wildlife.
Keep healthy, attractive stems where they stand well. Remove
diseased or collapsed growth.
COLOUR DOESN’T HAVE TO COME FROM FLOWERS
Look at the leaves. Then look at the whole plant.
The rich foliage of a Heuchera is a good reminder that a plant
can earn its place without being in flower. Leaf colour, shape
and texture can be just as valuable in a planting scheme.
For the colder months,
evergreen foliage and planting structure
provide a framework, while coloured stems, beautiful bark and
retained seedheads add detail. It is the combination that makes
the garden work.
WINTER COLOUR, WITH SOMETHING MORE
Berries brighten the garden. And help bring it to life.
By including berrying shrubs and trees, you can add colour
and provide food for birds and other wildlife, helping support
the natural balance of the garden.
Colour that catches the eye
The beautiful purple berries of Callicarpa ‘Profusion’
bring a very different colour to the autumn garden.
A generous display
A berry-laden Pyracantha combines colour with an evergreen
framework and shelter.
A garden shared with wildlife
Birds make use of the food you plant for them. The berries
may not last all winter, but watching the visitors becomes
part of the pleasure.
A DIFFERENT WAY TO THINK ABOUT PLANTING
What takes over when summer ends?
Explore the layers that keep a garden interesting. These are
starting points; the right plants depend on your soil, space
and exposure.
Late colour
Let autumn have its moment.
Late-flowering perennials can extend the display as summer
plants fade. Combine them with foliage that colours well.
Consider: hardy asters and Hylotelephium (sedums).
Shape & texture
Leave something standing.
Upright grasses and sturdy seedheads can keep a bed looking
intentional long after flowering finishes.
Consider: Calamagrostis and selected perennial seedheads.
Berries & foliage
Look beyond the flowers.
Berries and changing leaves bring another layer of interest.
Birds may enjoy the berries before you do.
Consider: a suitably sized crab apple or berrying holly.
You don’t need every plant on this list. You need a combination
that works together in your garden.
ONE SIMPLE THING TO DO TODAY
Look out of your favourite window.
What holds your eye once the flowers are gone? If the answer is
mostly bare soil, lawn or a fence, that’s a useful clue. This is
the view I would consider when planning winter interest for
your garden.
PLANTING DESIGN WITH PETER DOWDALL
Let’s plan a garden you enjoy beyond summer.
You may need to refresh a few beds, or rethink the planting
throughout the garden. I can help you decide what to keep,
what to change and what to plant.
I choose plants for the conditions in your garden and for how
you want the space to feel. The aim is a planting scheme that
works as a whole, with interest across the seasons and
maintenance you can manage.
A plant list with names, quantities and photographs.
Plants selected for your soil, light, exposure and available space.
A concept layout where the agreed brief includes changes to
the garden’s arrangement.
I can also arrange quotations from my Irish plant suppliers,
including delivery, if you would like help sourcing the plants.
Plants and delivery are priced separately.
Start with a short enquiry.
You don’t need to have a design brief worked out.
01
Tell me about the garden
Send your location or Eircode and a few lines about what you
would like to change. If I need photographs or more detail,
I’ll ask when I reply.
02
I recommend the next step
I review your details personally and give you an idea of the
likely design cost. There is no obligation to proceed.
03
We agree the plan
Before design begins, we agree the scope and fee and talk
through what you want. For remote work, I may need a simple
measured sketch of the garden.
A FEW QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE
Before you get in touch.
Do I need to redo the whole garden?
No. Sometimes improving a few beds or introducing the right
structural plants is enough. I’ll recommend an approach that
suits the garden and what you want to achieve.
Can you work with an existing garden?
Yes. Existing trees, shrubs, paths and patios can form the
starting point. The aim is to make good use of what is already
working and improve the areas that need attention.
How much does a planting design cost?
The fee depends on the size of the area and the work involved.
Send your Eircode or location and a short description, and I’ll
give you an idea of the likely cost before you decide whether
to proceed.
Can you design my planting if I’m outside Cork?
Yes. I offer online planting design throughout Ireland, using
a conversation, photographs and the measurements needed for
your particular plan. On-site consultations are available
in Cork.
Is autumn a good time to start planning?
Yes. You can see where the garden loses interest and plan
changes around those gaps. Planting timing depends on the
plants and conditions; avoid planting into waterlogged or
frozen ground. Read more about
when to plant in Ireland.
YOUR GARDEN’S NEXT CHAPTER
Give the quieter months something to show you.
Tell me what’s missing. I’ll help you work out the next step.
