Autumn's charm reveals Sissinghurst Castle Garden, with Harold Nicolson's design becoming evident amidst scattered apples, encouraging wildlife to thrive.
In the heart of Kent, England, the enchanting Sissinghurst Castle Garden undergoes a magical transformation as summer fades into autumn. This iconic garden, open daily for visitors, is a symphony of colours that delights the senses.
As the days grow shorter and the nights cooler, gardening tasks at Sissinghurst take on a new urgency. Recommended autumn activities include pruning certain shrubs, maintaining the garden's distinctive smaller "rooms," and preparing for the winter season by cutting back plants to keep them healthy and tidy.
Hedge cutting is a key autumn task at the garden. Evergreen hedges, such as yew or box hedges, are best cut twice a year, once in late spring and again in late summer or early autumn, to keep their shape and density. Mixed or deciduous hedges should generally be cut only once a year, often in late autumn or winter, after leaf fall, which encourages healthy new growth in spring.
While specific hedge care instructions for Sissinghurst may vary, these guidelines align with traditional and sustainable hedge maintenance practices typical of historic English gardens and those following National Trust guidelines.
Deciduous hedges of beech or hornbeam are cut twice, once in the second week of June and again in late September. For box, the cut is shifted to a late autumn/winter period to disrupt the overwintering box caterpillar. The bulk of the hedges at Sissinghurst are of yew and are cut between 1 August and 1 November.
Autumn is also a time for adaptation. Late-summer sowings are being used as a method to adapt gardening to a changing climate. Dahlias, which were previously lifted, are now either left in the ground or lifted later, and planted deeper or further apart to accommodate spring plants.
As the first frosts of the season induce a sudden surge of senescence, making the soil cold and wet, the garden reveals Harold Nicolson's structure in October, a stark contrast to the flamboyance of summer. The garden presents a spectacle of faded Venetian red sedums and burning torch Euonymus alatus, creating a mellow, yet captivating, atmosphere.
Visitors can follow the garden's transformation on Instagram at @troyscottsmith1, where Troy Scott Smith, the head gardener, emphasizes that everything that can usefully be done now should be done with an emphasis on next year.
Sissinghurst Castle's address is Biddenden Road, nr Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2AB. The garden is open daily from 11am-5.30pm, with admission costing £17. For more information, please visit nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst or call 01580 710700.
During autumn, the garden becomes a haven for wildlife. Hedgehogs, mice, birds, including visiting fieldfares and redwings, feed on the fallen apples throughout autumn and winter, leaving no morsel by spring. A notable sight is the halos of red around trees in the Orchard, which are fallen apples deliberately left to drop.
Autumn at Sissinghurst Castle is a time to appreciate the season and the life around us. So, come and experience the magic of this enchanting garden as it transitions from the flamboyance of summer to the mellow days of autumn.
- In the autumn season at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, gardeners are advised to prune certain shrubs, maintain the garden's distinctive smaller "rooms," and prepare for winter by cutting back plants, attempting to create a balanced lifestyle between home-and-garden gardening and the new challenges autumn brings.
- One of the key autumn tasks at Sissinghurst is hedge cutting, with evergreen hedges like yew or box hedges being cut twice a year, and deciduous hedges like beech or hornbeam being cut twice, once in June and again in late September.
- As autumn progresses, the garden transitions from a vibrant showcase of colorful flowers and plants to a captivating display of faded sedums and Euonymus alatus, creating a mellow atmosphere that draws visitors into the enchanting world of Sissinghurst Castle Garden.
