Late summer is a make-or-break moment for planting schemes. Many gardens fade after July — but with the right perennials, borders can stay vibrant, structured, and full of interest right through to early autumn.

By mid-July, the energy of early summer has softened. Many perennials have done their first show, borders start to settle, and a different kind of beauty emerges – quieter, textural, more about rhythm than colour.

Before adding a single plant or making any changes, I spend time reading the space: its patterns, gaps, structure, and signals. This is the foundation of every planting consultation I offer – understanding what’s there before deciding what’s missing.

July in the city garden is all about pace – heat, growth, and the quiet start of fade. While spring’s energy has passed, this is a moment to steer the border back into rhythm without drastic change.

As July settles in, London gardens reach their moment of fullness – a heady mix of scent, texture, and soft movement. It’s the season where even the smallest space can feel expansive, alive with pollinators and layered planting.

A successful urban garden needs structure – especially in winter. That’s where evergreens shine: they give your garden form, anchor the design, and stay dependable when everything else fades.

High summer in East London means two things for gardens: heat and pause. Growth slows, moisture is patchy, and even well-established borders can feel the strain. But the right planting – thoughtful, layered, and suited to urban conditions – will carry a garden through the hottest weeks with quiet confidence.

These are the gardens I always return to. Spaces that feel evolving and quietly instructive. Not just beautiful, but thoughtful – in their planting, their structure, and the way they shape time.

When it comes to adding structure to a garden, most people think of paving, walls, or built elements. But in naturalistic planting, structure can come entirely from plants – especially ornamental grasses.

A successful border doesn’t need a full redesign – just thoughtful layering. Working with what’s already growing and adding structure, texture and movement can transform a tired space into something purposeful and perennial.