To celebrate planting season, we’re offering 20% off all of our Instant Beds for the rest of September. Use the code PLANTING24 at the checkout to receive this discount and make the most of one of the best times of year to plant a garden.
But what are the reasons for this time of year being so good for planting…?
Warm soil
It takes a surprising amount of time for soil to cool down after summer. The ground is excellent at retaining heat and, though it might be starting to get wet and windy and chillier above ground, beneath the surface, plants are rewarded with perfect growing conditions to establish strong roots that have these early autumn months to establish, and the later autumn and winter months to strengthen ready for a flourishing display next spring.
Shorter days, cooler temperatures
Short days and colder climes prompt plants to spend less energy on growth above the ground. They will naturally focus less of their attention on establishing leaves and blooms with the biological knowledge that it’s not a great time of year for it with less light and less of the warmth that encourages strong foliage – instead sending most of their energy beneath the surface.
Fewer weeds
A more practical reason is that there are fewer weeds to navigate and stay on top of. You can clearly see where you want to plant, easily remove smaller weeds as they emerge, and stay on top of them as, without the same sun and warm temperatures that your chosen plants would have benefitted from in summer, they’ll also be limiting their growth.
Humidity and rainfall
Another practical reason is that, with more rain, and more humidity, you’ll need to do less watering. Now, it’s obviously important to stay on top of your watering and we encourage you to keep an eye on your plants and the dampness of your soil, but you’ll definitely need to water far less regularly than if you planted out new, fresh plants in the warmer months of the year.
So, when is planting season and when should you plant?
Planting during this time of year, to really reap the benefits, should be completed before the first frosts. Broadly speaking, if you’d done your planting by the end of October, you’re on track for a fabulous display in the springtime. With warmer and warmer winters though, one of the few advantages to climate change is that this can sometimes stretch into November but with the ambition being to give your plants as much time to establish as possible before the winter, the sooner the better.
If you’re thinking about bringing some new plants into your garden, or transforming your outdoor space entirely, don’t forget that our discount code PLANTING24 will give you 20% off all Instant Beds until the end of September 2024 and your new plants will be with you 1-2 weeks later – well in time for an October planting day.