Autumn-Ready Blooms: Top 5 Flowers to Plant Immediately for a Stunning Display as Autumn Begins

With the last days of summer upon us, it's not too late to add a splash of colour to your garden. Here are some timely tips from gardening experts to help you make the most of your outdoor space before the autumn chill sets in.

Autumn Crocus: Planting the autumn crocus in late summer will ensure you're rewarded with beautiful blooms come autumn. These delicate flowers send up their foliage in the spring, die back by summer, and bloom in the autumn.
Second Early Potatoes: If you've been patiently waiting, now's the time to dig up your second early potatoes. They're ready and waiting to be enjoyed.
Strawberries: August is the perfect month to plant strawberries. Although you'll have to wait until next year to harvest them, the anticipation will be worth it.
Five Flowers for a Second Act of Colour: Experts recommend planting five flowers in late summer for a second burst of colour in your garden. Violets, goldenrod, blanket flowers, and the undisputed queen of autumn flowers, the mum, are all great choices.
Pruning Lavenders: August is the time to prune back your lavenders. Always prune them back to the woody stems, but make sure you can still see some little buds. This will encourage new growth and fresh blooms next year.
Deadheading: Continue to deadhead your plants, either using secateurs or just pinching off the blooms with your finger and thumb. This practice encourages more flowers to appear.
Watering Houseplants: For those with houseplants, the upside-down bottle trick can be used for watering. Fill a wine bottle and then tip it upside down, spout down, and stick it into the pot. This ensures your plants get a steady supply of water.
Bargain Finds: A savvy bargain-hunter recently filled her trolley with seven succulents and three potted flowers in shades of pink, yellow, and orange. The total cost? Just 10p, a remarkable saving given some of the plants were selling for £5 just last week.
Slow-Release Fertiliser: Using a slow-release fertiliser in late summer can encourage stunning autumn flowers in violets and other plants.
Hardy Annuals: Towards the end of the month, hardy annuals can be sown in order for them to flower next year. Blanket flowers, with their long blooming period from late spring to autumn, are a great choice.
Planting Mums: Planting a mum that isn't already in full bloom helps it deal with the shock of being moved. So, if you've been eyeing a mum at the nursery, now might be the perfect time to bring it home.
Hanging Baskets: Remember to keep hanging baskets hydrated. As they are the first and the worst for drying out, regular watering is essential to keep them looking their best.

These tips, shared by The Sun's Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, will help you transform your garden into a vibrant display of autumn colours. Enjoy the process and happy gardening!