Exploring Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Autumn: The Architecture of Harold Nicolson Shines Amidst Scattered Apples, Encouraging Wildlife Bloom
In the heart of Kent, England, Sissinghurst Castle Garden is a breathtaking spectacle as the season shifts from summer to autumn. Head gardener Troy Scott Smith, who can be followed on Instagram at @troyscottsmith1, is working diligently to plans made earlier in the year.
One of the key autumn tasks at Sissinghurst is hedge cutting. The bulk of the hedges are of yew, and they are cut between August and November. This annual trim of the yew hedges, including the world's largest yew hedge at the site, takes place in August. Sometimes, large equipment such as 60ft ladders and hydraulic platforms are used due to the hedge's size.
While yew hedges are trimmed annually, the schedule for other hedge types is less defined. Typical horticultural practice suggests that evergreen hedges are often trimmed once or twice during the growing season, typically late spring and mid to late summer. Deciduous hedges, on the other hand, are usually pruned during late winter or early spring before new growth starts.
For a more tailored schedule, it's best to contact the National Trust or the garden’s horticultural team directly.
As the first frosts of the season approach, the garden's colours transform into a symphony of faded Venetian red sedums and burning torch Euonymus alatus. By spring, not a morsel of the fallen apples remains due to wildlife consumption, with hedgehogs, mice, birds, including fieldfares and redwings, feeding on them throughout autumn and winter.
In the Orchard, halos of red around trees are caused by deliberately allowed fallen apples. Dahlias are now either left in the ground or planted deeper, allowing for spring plants to fill the space above, or lifted later with wider spacing to accommodate biennials.
The garden at Sissinghurst, once tended by Harold Nicolson, is now showing Harold Nicolson's structure in autumn. Open Gardens at Sissinghurst Castle are open daily from 11am-5.30pm. The web address for Sissinghurst Castle is nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst, and the contact number is 01580 710700.
[1] Information sourced from the National Trust's official website.
- Gardening enthusiasts looking to emulate the lifestyle found at Sissinghurst Castle Garden might want to consider the gardening tasks associated with different types of hedges, as outlined by the National Trust.
- During autumn at Sissinghurst, a home-and-garden enthusiast could marvel at the transition of the gardens' colors from the Venetian red sedums and burning torch Euonymus alatus, to the next spring's vibrant blooms.
- The Sissinghurst Castle Garden, as part of the National Trust, offers unique insights into gardening and plants, encouraging visitors to explore various aspects of the art, from gardening techniques to home-and-garden tips.
