What's New at Moss & Moor This Autumn

September is a lovely month in the garden and at home. The summer displays are winding down, but there's plenty coming into its own, from elegant late-season perennials to houseplants that bring a bit of jungle charm indoors. Here's what's catching our eye this season.  

Plant of the Month: Japanese Anemones

Japanese anemones are the stars of the September garden, producing beautiful pink or white flowers on tall, elegant stems from late summer well into autumn. Just when many summer plants are beginning to fade, they bring fresh colour, movement and a touch of magic to the border.

Why grow Japanese anemones?

• Late-season colour – their flowers can continue right up until the first severe frosts, keeping borders looking beautiful as autumn approaches
• Great for pollinators – their open flowers provide a useful source of pollen for visiting insects
• Easy and reliable – once established, they're robust, low-maintenance perennials
• Perfect for sun or shade – they thrive particularly well in partial shade, making them ideal for brightening more difficult areas of the garden
• Beautiful with other plants – their tall, graceful stems look wonderful weaving through ornamental grasses, ferns and other late-flowering perennials

How to grow them

Position: Sun or partial shade. Partial shade is ideal, although they will grow in sunnier positions if the soil does not dry out.

Soil: Rich, fertile, moist but well-drained soil. They dislike very dry conditions and excessive winter wet.

Planting: Plant in spring or autumn, when the soil is warm and moist. Give plants plenty of space, as established clumps can spread.

Watering: Water regularly during their first summer while they establish. Mature plants usually only need watering during prolonged dry spells.

Care: Apply a mulch of garden compost or other organic matter each spring to help retain moisture and improve the soil. Leave the old stems and foliage over winter where possible, as they provide shelter for insects, then cut them back in early spring before new growth appears.

Our top tip: Japanese anemones can spread enthusiastically once established. Wonderful for filling a larger border, but give them room to grow!

Varieties to look out for:

 

• Anemone × hybrida 'Honorine Jobert' – elegant single white flowers
• Anemone × hybrida 'September Charm' – soft pink flowers, perfect for the September garden
• Anemone hupehensis 'Hadspen Abundance' – rich pink blooms for late-season colour

New In: Spring Flowering Bulbs

Spring flowering bulbs have arrived, ready to plant this autumn. We have a fantastic selection of daffodils, tulips, crocus and many more varieties. With a little careful planning, you can select varieties that give you colour from January all the way through to the end of April.

Bulbs don't just have to be grown in the ground, they'll do just as well in pots and containers. Why not plant seasonal bedding plants on top of your bulbs? You'll get colour straight away this autumn, then early next year you'll watch the bulbs grow up through the bedding plants for a fantastic layered display.

Remember, if you need any help or advice choosing varieties, please ask one of our friendly team.

Houseplant of the Month: Boston Fern (Nephrolepis)

Known commonly as the Boston fern, this houseplant brings beautiful arching fronds that look wonderful in a hanging planter or left to trail over the side of shelves or pots.

• Pet friendly
• Air purifying

Water: Keep Boston ferns moist all the time, watering when the top of the soil starts to show signs of dryness. It's important not to overwater, so let excess water drain away so the roots aren't sat in water.

Light: They can cope with bright indirect light or shadier conditions, but avoid direct sunlight as this will burn the fronds.

Humidity: Boston ferns like high humidity and will start to show signs of stress if the air is too dry. Mist the plants regularly to help improve humidity levels if the plant begins to struggle. They're also ideal for bathrooms and kitchens where humidity is naturally higher.

Height: They can grow to between 50cm and 1m tall in perfect conditions, forming a beautiful mound.

Autumn Gardening Jobs

There's plenty to be getting on with in the garden this month. Here's what's on our list:

• Plant prepared hyacinth and paperwhite bulbs for displays in time for Christmas.
• Pot up containers and hanging baskets with violas, pansies and cyclamen for colourful autumn interest.
• Start planting spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils, we have a big selection to choose from.
• Give lawns some TLC by scarifying with a rake and re-seeding any bare patches.
• As summer ends, birds will begin to make use of bird feeders again. To prepare, give them a thorough clean and restock with fresh feed.
• Use tree and shrub ties to secure any plants that could be vulnerable to autumn winds.
• Give patios and paths a good clean to remove slippery moss and algae.
• Add a mulch to bare soil to help improve the structure and moisture retention of the soil, we stock farmyard manure, landscape bark and Strulch.
• Keep deadheading late-flowering plants so they continue to flower into early autumn.

Visit Us This Autumn

Whether you're planning ahead for a spring bulb display, adding late-season colour to your borders, or looking for a new houseplant to bring some life indoors, our team is here to help. Pop in and see us, or ask any member of our friendly team for advice, we're always happy to chat plants.