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The Royal Horticultural Society is urging gardeners to plant trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials in autumn so they can establish before summer heat. British Garden Centres has also published a guide to plants that tolerate hot conditions, including sedums, asters and ornamental grasses.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is urging gardeners to plant trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials in autumn, giving them time to establish before next summer’s heat. The advice follows a summer of extreme heat and drought and comes alongside a British Garden Centres guide to plants that can cope with hot conditions.
The RHS says warm, moist autumn soil can support root growth, while cooler weather may reduce the stress plants face compared with being planted during summer heat. Autumn, winter and spring provide a period for plants to settle in before the next hot spell. The organisation also points to generally lower weed and pest pressure as a help for new plantings.
Leigh Hunt, the RHS’s principal horticultural advisor, said planting in autumn could give some plants a better chance and help gardeners use water more wisely. The advice focuses on establishing plants ahead of summer rather than relying on watering during hot, dry weather, though individual results will depend on growing conditions and plant care.
British Garden Centres has published a separate list of plants described as suited to hot weather. Its examples include sedums, Verbena bonariensis, asters, chrysanthemums, sea hollies and ornamental grasses. Julian Palphramand, the chain’s head of plants, said the varieties are generally tough and forgiving once established.
Getting Plants Ready for Summer Heat
Planting in autumn offers gardeners a practical way to prepare beds and borders before the period when water stress is most likely. If plants establish roots through cooler months, they may be better placed to cope with heat than newly planted specimens would be during summer. The RHS frames the approach as part of adapting gardening habits to longer, hotter dry spells.
The advice does not mean every plant will thrive without care, or that autumn planting removes the need to water. It does highlight a shift in timing: planting earlier can give trees, shrubs and perennials more time to settle, while choosing varieties described as heat-tolerant may help gardeners plan for changing conditions. For people with limited water or small gardens, the recommendations offer options to consider when selecting plants and scheduling work.
autumn planting trees shrubs perennials
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Advice After a Hot, Dry Summer
The report links the guidance to a summer described as bringing unprecedented heat and drought. In response, horticultural experts are preparing recommendations on plants and practices for coping with future extreme temperatures. The article does not provide a temperature record or a detailed account of the summer’s conditions, so that description remains the source’s characterization.
The RHS recommendation is about the timing of planting trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials. British Garden Centres’ guide addresses plant choice, naming species and groups it considers suitable for hot weather. These are related but distinct strands of advice: planting season and plant selection. Neither source says all listed plants will suit every garden, soil or local climate.
“If we want gardens to survive longer, hotter dry spells, we need to make autumn planting part of the new gardening calendar.”
— Leigh Hunt, principal horticultural advisor at the RHS
How Gardens Will Respond Locally
The guidance does not specify how much autumn planting improves survival rates or reduces water use, and no comparative figures are supplied. Outcomes can vary with local weather, soil, planting conditions and care. The report also does not give a full planting calendar or detailed instructions for each species, so gardeners may need to check plant-specific guidance before choosing a site or watering routine.
It is also unclear how the RHS and British Garden Centres define or measure plants’ ability to tolerate hot weather. Their recommendations are presented as horticultural advice, not as a guarantee that plants will withstand every future heatwave or drought.
Planting Before the Next Summer
Gardeners following the RHS advice can use the autumn planting season to establish suitable trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials, then monitor them through winter and spring. British Garden Centres’ plant list offers further options for those planning borders or containers with hot weather in mind. The sources give no date for additional guidance or follow-up results, so the next practical step is for gardeners to match plant choices to their own conditions and follow care instructions for each variety.
Key Questions
Why is the RHS recommending autumn planting?
The RHS says autumn planting gives trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials time to establish before summer heat. Warm, moist soil can support root growth, and cooler weather may reduce stress on new plants.
Which plants are listed as suited to hot weather?
British Garden Centres names sedums, Verbena bonariensis, asters, chrysanthemums, sea hollies and ornamental grasses among its examples. The report does not say they will suit every garden or growing condition.
Does autumn planting mean new plants will not need watering?
No. The advice is that autumn planting may help plants establish before summer and support more careful water use. It is not a guarantee that watering will never be needed; requirements depend on conditions and the plant.
What remains unknown about the advice?
The report gives no measured survival or water-use results comparing autumn planting with other seasons. It also does not provide a universal planting schedule, since local soil, weather and plant care can affect outcomes.
Source: rss
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