Overview

• Gardeners are urged to set spring-flowering bulbs between September and November in well-drained soil so roots establish before the ground freezes.
• Balcony and patio displays can stay colorful with hardy choices like asters, chrysanthemums, sedum, heathers, heuchera and cool-season grasses, with containers insulated against cold as advised by public broadcasters.
• The layered “lasagne” method places taller bulbs deep in the pot beneath autumn plants and finishes with small bulbs near the surface for staggered blooms into spring.
• Dahlia tubers should be lifted after the first night frosts, cleaned of loose soil and stored frost-free, ideally in a ventilated box in a cellar until replanting in spring.
• Autumn rose care includes regular deadheading of repeat bloomers and cutting back bedding roses to about 30–40 centimeters to lower fungal risk, with potassium feeding reserved for September rather than late full fertilization.