Many Hampshire gardens look spectacular in June and July but fade badly by September. The secret to year-round colour is layering plants with different flowering periods, combined with structural evergreens that hold the garden together through winter. With a little planning, something is always in bloom or providing visual interest.
Spring Colour (February–May)
Bulbs are the backbone of spring colour. Plant tulips, daffodils and alliums in autumn for a reliable display. Underplant with hellebores and pulmonarias that flower from February.
- Narcissus — naturalise beautifully in grass
- Tulipa — choose a mix of early and late varieties
- Allium — structural seedheads last into summer
- Helleborus — flowering from January through to April
- Muscari — good for filling gaps at the front of borders
Summer Colour (June–August)
Perennials take over from late spring. Salvia, geranium and nepeta provide months of colour with little effort. Add dahlias and rudbeckia for bold late-summer impact.
Autumn and Winter Interest
Sedums, asters and echinacea extend the season into October. For winter, rely on evergreen structure — box, yew or holly — combined with the skeletal beauty of ornamental grasses left uncut until spring.
The team at A&T Landscapes designs planting schemes that work across every season. Call 07735 916029 to discuss your garden in Hampshire, Dorset or Wiltshire.