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The Royal Horticultural Society advises gardeners to plant trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials in autumn, allowing them time to establish before summer. British Garden Centres has also published a guide to plants it says can grow in hot conditions, including sedums, asters and ornamental grasses. The advice does not guarantee plants will withstand drought; outcomes depend on conditions and care.
The Royal Horticultural Society is advising gardeners to plant trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials in autumn, giving roots time to establish through cooler months before summer. The advice follows a summer that the source report describes as marked by heat and drought and is intended to help gardens prepare for future dry spells.
The RHS says warm, moist autumn soil can support root growth, while cooler weather can reduce stress on newly planted specimens. The report also points to lower weed and pest pressure as factors that may give plants more room to establish before spring. These are the reasons the RHS gives for planting now rather than waiting until warmer weather.
British Garden Centres has separately published a guide to plants it says can grow in hot weather and can be planted now. Its suggested varieties include sedums, Verbena bonariensis, asters, chrysanthemums, sea hollies and ornamental grasses. Julian Palphramand, the company’s head of plants, described the varieties as generally tough and forgiving once established, while noting that establishment is part of the qualification.
The recommendations are guidance, not a guarantee against drought damage. The source report does not set out a planting schedule for each variety or give watering instructions, and gardeners will need to take account of their local soil, exposure and weather. Its central message is to use the cooler season to help suitable plants develop before summer conditions become more demanding.
Autumn Planting Before Summer
Planting in autumn can move some of the work of establishing a garden away from the hottest part of the year. If roots have time to develop while the soil is moist and temperatures are lower, plants may be better placed to cope with later dry spells. The RHS presents this as one way to help gardens manage longer, hotter periods and use water more efficiently.
The advice is relevant to households planning new borders or replacing plants because it identifies a seasonal window before summer stress returns. Choosing varieties described as suited to hot weather may also help, but the source does not claim that any plant is immune to drought. Local growing conditions and establishment care remain relevant, and the report provides no quantified estimate of water savings or survival rates.
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Advice Following a Hot, Dry Summer
The report links the guidance to the preceding summer’s heat and drought and says horticultural experts are assembling advice to help gardeners prepare for future extreme temperatures. It brings together two strands: the RHS recommendation to plant trees, shrubs and perennials in autumn, and a British Garden Centres guide focused on plants suited to hot weather.
The timing is central to the RHS advice: autumn, winter and spring provide a period for plants to establish before summer heat. The report does not provide a date for the launch of the garden-centre guide or detail how the RHS developed its recommendation. It also includes unrelated gardening news, but those items do not change the planting guidance reported here.
““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, principal horticultural adviser at the RHS
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Limits of the Planting Advice
The report does not specify which of the listed plants are best suited to particular soil types, regions or levels of sun, nor does it give planting depths, aftercare schedules or watering amounts. It also provides no measured evidence about how much autumn planting improves survival during a later drought. The RHS and retailer recommendations should not be read as a promise that plants will withstand extreme heat without care.
The source describes the previous summer as having significant heat and drought but gives no location, dates or temperature and rainfall measurements for that description. It is also unclear which future conditions the advice is intended to address. Gardeners may need more tailored local guidance before choosing plants for a specific site.
drought tolerant ornamental grasses
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Planting Before Spring Growth
Gardeners considering new trees, shrubs or herbaceous perennials can use the autumn planting window described by the RHS, then allow plants to establish through winter and spring. Those selecting from British Garden Centres’ list can check whether each variety suits their site and follow plant-specific instructions for planting and care. The report does not announce a further RHS timetable or a new evidence review, so no additional milestone is confirmed.
As warmer weather approaches, plant performance will depend on local conditions. The source offers no guarantee or quantified forecast; its advice is to prepare by choosing suitable plants and giving them time to root before summer.
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Key Questions
Why does the RHS recommend planting in autumn?
The RHS says warm, moist soil can support root growth, while cooler weather may reduce stress. Autumn planting also gives plants time to establish before summer heat.
Which plants are named as suitable for hot weather?
British Garden Centres’ guide includes sedums, Verbena bonariensis, asters, chrysanthemums, sea hollies and ornamental grasses. The report does not provide site-specific guidance for each variety.
Does autumn planting mean plants will survive drought?
No. The report presents autumn planting as a way to give suitable plants a better chance to establish, not as a guarantee against drought damage. Local conditions and care still matter.
What kinds of plants does the RHS advise planting?
The RHS recommendation covers trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials, planted in autumn so they have autumn, winter and spring to establish before summer.
Source: rss
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