It's time for the annual autumn spectacular as trees across the country turn a fireworks display of red, purple, orange and yellow, flooding gardens, parks and landscapes with rich, warm colour.
Get some late-season inspiration with a visit to one of the UK's best autumn gardens: it's a great way to discover new trees to add an extra flare of colour to your own garden. There's Ardingly in West Sussex with acres of specimen shrubs, lakes and woodland; Drummond Gardens in Perthshire, Scotland, its 14 different species of acer turning russet and gold; and Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire where glades of maples are joined by katsura trees and coppery beech for a breathtaking scene.
It's the perfect time of year to plant trees with dazzling autumn colour. Among the best are the Japanese acers, suitable for the smallest gardens in shades of purple, scarlet and buttery yellow. Elegant Ginkgo biloba turns gleaming golden yellow in autumn; Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) is a tall tree which turns fiery orange; and the low-growing spindle (Euonymus europaeus) combines its pretty yellow-and-red autumn colours with gorgeous red fruits which split to reveal orange centres.
