Seeds of change

Don't be too hasty cutting back spent flowerheads, seedheads and grasses in the garden. Yes, it's great when the garden is in full bloom but many of those high summer and late autumn perennials often have one last trick up their sleeve before dying back. So, before reaching for the secateurs, why not take some time to appreciate the 'season of decay' as plants set seed as part of their natural lifecycle. Such displays are enhanced by a low winter sun, and a glistening frost adds an altogether other-worldly dimension to the border. So resist the temptation to cut everything down the minute things start to go over and let nature take its course. Not only do seedheads look amazing but they are often a vital food source for our wildlife.

Any plants that have collapsed as a result of the first frosts can be cut back at the start of the season, but others that are more sturdy or rigid in form can be left until as late as February, cutting down before new growth starts emerging. This saves looking out on bare soil and lets you to appreciate the decayed architectural form a plant takes on at this stage in its cycle. If mass planted, the effect is even more dramatic. So when thinking about what to plant, consider selecting plants not just for their summer colour but for their winter characteristics too, as with Echinacea seedheads and grasses, such as Miscanthus.