Gardeners urged to plant 3 plants in October for beautiful spring flowers

Now that Autumn has arrived, things are slowing down in the garden. However, it is as good a time as any to get prepared ahead of spring. These are the best flowers to plant now.

As October settles in, it is time for the garden begins its subtle transformation. Colin Gray, managing director of Lavender Green Flowers said: "Brown becomes a colour in its own right, with seed heads and grasses adding texture and structure, a type of beauty that has long been championed by landscape designers like Piet Oudolf.

"While you can harvest seeds from poppies, nigella and other favourites when they're ready, it's worth enjoying their form in the meantime," he added.

But there are ways to keep the garden looking as beautiful as ever during the colder months. "Dahlias, anemones and sedums keep borders glowing until the first frosts, especially with a little deadheading," says Colin.

He has highlighted three bulbs to plant now, ahead of the spring season.

"Dahlias, anemones and sedums keep borders glowing until the first frosts, especially with a little deadheading," added Colin.

"Beneath the surface, the soil deserves care too. After a dry season, a mulch of compost will restore balance underground and create the perfect backdrop for planting bulbs, like daffodils, alliums and muscari, but it's best to wait until November to plant tulips."

Rebecca Ellis, of Meadow at Moss Lane, is a flower farmer based in the beautiful Cheshire countryside. She said: "Asters (Michaelmas daisies) are the star of the show in my flower field throughout October."

She continued: "There are many varieties to choose from but I particularly like Prairie Purple for its statuesque height, and Rosy Veil, which produces mounds of frothy, arching sprays of delicate pink flowers.

"I'm still picking grasses, especially panicum elegans Frosted Explosion. Everyone who visits the meadow falls in love with its fibre-optic plumes. Fortunately, it self-seeds freely so I always have large swathes to cut from. Bronze fennel has also been invaluable this year. I find its mustardy, brown tones really elevate the look and break up colours - which might otherwise be too saccharine."

If you bear all of these tips in mind, you will no doubt have an abundance of beautiful flowers to welcome you into spring next year.