Discovering the Charm of Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Autumn: The Architecture of Harold Nicolson Revealed amidst Scattered Apples, Attracting Wildlife
Sissinghurst Castle Garden, nestled in the heart of Kent, is undergoing a transformation as autumn arrives. The iconic garden, once associated with Vita Sackville-West, is now experiencing a shift in mood from summer's exuberance to the mellow days of autumn.
As the first frosts of the season approach, the garden's emphasis shifts from blooming flowers to preparing for next year. Tasks are carried out methodically according to plans made earlier, with the aim of promoting the health and natural regeneration of plants.
Hedge cutting remains a key autumn task. Sissinghurst maintains its low hedges, such as boxwood, which define garden borders in classic English style. The garden's approach is likely meticulous, respecting the historic design intent to keep garden rooms clearly defined. The majority of the hedges at the garden are of yew, and they are cut between 1 August and 1 November. Cutting the yew hedges any sooner than the start of August may tempt them to grow again, and cutting them any later than the beginning of November may expose new, young shoots to frost.
For box hedges, the preferred cutting time is late autumn/winter, with the intention of disrupting the overwintering box caterpillar. Deciduous hedges of beech or hornbeam are cut twice, once in the second week of June and again in late September.
Adapting to climate change is also a priority at Sissinghurst. Contemporary garden and estate management practices increasingly focus on ecological resilience. This includes encouraging natural regeneration of trees and plants so they can adapt continuously to their specific environment and new climate stresses such as disease threats or extreme weather events. While Sissinghurst-specific details on this are limited, the broader practice involves monitoring plant health, careful planning of tree and shrub species, and sustainable management to reduce fire risks or disease spread.
Dahlias, usually lifted in the past, are now either left in the ground, planted deeper, or lifted later. Late-summer sowings are being used to adapt gardening practices to a changing climate, resulting in earlier-flowering, larger plants. The garden's color palette changes, featuring sedums in faded Venetian red and Euonymus alatus with burning torch-like colors.
Open Gardens at Sissinghurst Castle are open daily from 11am-5.30pm. Admission is £17. For more information, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst or follow Troy on Instagram at @troyscottsmith1.
As the leaves fall and the apples ripen, the garden becomes a haven for wildlife. The halos of red around the trees in the Orchard are from fallen apples, which are consumed by hedgehogs, mice, birds, and visiting fieldfares and redwings throughout autumn and winter. By spring, not a morsel of the fallen apples remains.
In summary, Sissinghurst Castle Garden's autumn care involves traditional hedge trimming to maintain formal garden structure alongside evolving strategies to foster natural regeneration and resilience amid climate change. This balanced approach helps preserve the garden's historic character while ensuring it adapts to modern environmental challenges.
Sissinghurst Castle's phone number is 01580 710700. The garden's address is Sissinghurst Castle, Biddenden Road, nr Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2AB.
- As autumn progresses in Sissinghurst Castle Garden, the focus shifts from blooming flowers to the preparation for next year, involving tasks like hedge cutting to maintain the classic English garden style.
- In order to support the health and natural regeneration of plants, the garden employs practices that respect the historic design, such as cutting yew hedges between August and November, while adapting to climate change by encouraging natural growth for ecological resilience.
- During autumn, the garden's color palette changes, showcasing the beauty of plants like dahlias, which are left in the ground or planted deeper, and sedums with their faded Venetian red, along with providing a haven for wildlife such as hedgehogs, birds, and visiting fieldfares.
