As I look out of the window today, it just all feels a bit grey and the colder weather makes everything seem a little less brighter. Summer in the garden serves up a natural palette of bright and vibrant colours. Autumn has its own hues to offer, but they are much more muted.So, in order to inject your garden with a range of rich and interesting shades once the air turns colder and the nights close in, you have to get a little bit more creative.

Whatever your favourite colours are, never fear, Sloane and Sons Garden Benches has a few interesting ideas up its sleeve to give you the tools to really brighten up your outdoor spaces this Autumn!

1. Red 

Red, and even brown, is certainly one of the colours you think of in conjunction with Autumn. So, naturally, there are many plants, shrubs and trees that will see your garden full of scarlets, burgundies and crimsons. Here are a few you might wish to try…

Red Maple. This variety of maple is, as you may have guessed, at least partially red for the whole year. Although all maples produce red leaves at some point during the Autumn, this one is known for its abundantly red pigmentation. It is at its deepest red in mid-Autumn. If you plant a fresh one, you will be starting small, but when planning for it you might want to consider that some varieties can grow up to 50 feet tall!

Holly. These bushes are prolific and do require regular pruning. However, the bright red berries are a dramatic splash of colour and can really lift your garden when they come through in the late Autumn.

Tulips. They come in many colours, but the red variety has a similar hue to the poppy, and is quite the contrast to the more rustic red tones that occur in decaying foliage. 

2. Orange and Yellow

Orange is perhaps the most common pigmentation around at this time of year. However, there are ways you can inject even more of it, other than that which comes from the leaves, into your garden.

Pumpkins. The bright orange of the pumpkin is a wonderful thing to see. Pumpkins, and other squash, also come in yellow, as well as a bunch of other colours. They grow very easily and to quite a large size. Plant a few of these and you could have a garden decoration that is not only your favourite hue but is edible as well!

Rust. This depiction of decaying metal might well spell the end of the road for your old wheelbarrow, rake or garden chair. However, if preserved, your old rusting kit could become quite the injection of orange if you repurpose them as garden ornaments!

3. Green

Green, although it is not a classic colour for this season, is remarkably easy to get into the garden all year round. Evergreens, so called because they retain their pigment at all times, are brilliant additions to your plant collection. There are a lot of varieties to chose from, however, favourites include Daphne, Fatsia and Holly. 

4. Blue and Purple

These are harder to find in nature in the Autumn, but there are many ways to both blue and purple in if they are what you desire.

Bulbs. There are a number of Autumnal and Wintery plants that you can put in at this time of year for blooms of this colour. Lavender is an excellent choice as it is not only a vibrant purple/blue colour, but its perfume is amazing, and it is an evergreen, so will produce flowers all year round. The Purple Emperor and many varieties of winter lily are also brilliant.

Bird Food. It is always advisable to encourage wildlife into your garden, it aids both the life and the general quality of your gardens eco-system. Indeed, a tempting bird feeder might also bring a flurry of colour into the picture in the form of a brightly coloured bird, such as a Robin or the odd Blue Tit!

5. White

Other than the various plants you could grow in your garden (such as snowdrops and Nippon daisies) to bring the freshness of white into its palette, you might also take this opportunity to get some paint out! Autumn and Winter are darker months, so a bright white shed or fence will make a welcome addition to the place. Make sure you go about it the right way though, it is not as simple as just splashing a bit of paint directly on to the wood! As well as appearing to be uplifting and fresh, it will also help to extenuate the other colours around the garden.

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