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The Royal Horticultural Society is urging gardeners to plant trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials in autumn, when warm, moist soil and cooler weather can support root establishment. British Garden Centres has also published a guide to plants suited to hot weather, though how well any plant tolerates drought depends on its conditions and establishment.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is urging gardeners to plant trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials in autumn, giving them time to establish roots through the cooler months before summer heat and dry spells. The advice follows an exceptionally hot, dry summer, and accompanies a British Garden Centres guide to plants that can cope with hot conditions once established.
The RHS says warm, moist autumn soil can support root growth, while cooler air temperatures may reduce stress on newly planted specimens. Plants then have autumn, winter and spring to establish before facing summer conditions. The society also points to reduced weed and pest pressure later in the year as a potential advantage for young plants.
Leigh Hunt, the RHS’s principal horticultural advisor, said autumn planting could help gardens handle longer, hotter dry spells and help gardeners use water more wisely. The guidance applies to trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials; the report does not set out a single planting method or schedule for every species and location.
British Garden Centres has separately highlighted plants it says are suited to hot weather and can be planted now. Its list includes sedums, Verbena bonariensis, asters, chrysanthemums, sea hollies and ornamental grasses. Julian Palphramand, the retailer’s head of plants, described the varieties as tough and forgiving once established. That is a general description, not a guarantee that they will thrive without water or in every garden.
More Time to Root Before Summer
Autumn planting shifts some of the work of preparing for summer heat to a cooler part of the year. If plants establish successfully before hot weather arrives, gardeners may face less stress from planting into dry, warm conditions at the start of summer. The RHS presents this as one way to make gardens more resilient, rather than a solution that removes the need to water during drought.
The advice also gives gardeners a practical seasonal choice: plant suitable trees, shrubs and perennials while soils are moist, rather than waiting until spring. The potential benefit depends on local weather, soil and plant needs. Gardeners should still select varieties suited to their site and follow species-specific planting and care guidance.
autumn planting trees shrubs perennials
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Advice After Summer Heat
The report says horticultural experts are assembling advice after a summer described by the source as marked by unprecedented heat and drought. It does not provide temperature records, rainfall totals or a geographic breakdown, so that description cannot be independently quantified from the supplied material.
The RHS planting recommendation and the British Garden Centres plant guide are related but distinct developments. The RHS focuses on when to plant trees, shrubs and perennials so they can establish ahead of summer. The retailer focuses on varieties it considers better suited to hot weather. Neither source says that planting in autumn guarantees survival through extreme heat.
“If we want gardens to survive longer, hotter dry spells, we need to make autumn planting part of the new gardening calendar. It gives certain plants a better chance and helps gardeners use water more wisely.”
— Leigh Hunt, RHS principal horticultural advisor
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Results Depend on Local Conditions
The source does not identify the exact date or location of the RHS advice, quantify the summer’s heat or drought, or provide trial data comparing autumn- and spring-planted specimens. It is also unclear which specific varieties perform best in different soil types and regions. The guidance is general: establishment and drought tolerance vary by plant and site, and newly planted specimens may still need watering if conditions become dry.
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Planting Decisions This Autumn
Gardeners considering the advice can check the needs of individual trees, shrubs and perennials and assess whether their soil and garden conditions suit autumn planting. The RHS and British Garden Centres guides offer broad direction, but the supplied report gives no detailed planting calendar or watering instructions. Further local guidance may help readers decide what to plant and how to care for it through the first growing season.
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Key Questions
Why is the RHS recommending autumn planting?
The RHS says warm, moist soil and cooler weather can help plants establish roots before summer heat, while lower weed and pest pressure may give them more room to grow.
Which plants did British Garden Centres recommend?
The retailer’s list includes sedums, Verbena bonariensis, asters, chrysanthemums, sea hollies and ornamental grasses. Their suitability still depends on the garden and the care they receive.
Does autumn planting mean plants will not need watering in summer?
No. The advice does not promise that established plants can withstand every dry spell without water. Newly planted specimens may need watering, and requirements vary by species, soil and weather.
Which plant groups does the RHS advice cover?
The RHS recommendation in the report covers trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials, planted in autumn so they have cooler months to establish before summer.
Source: rss
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