<p>October is an excellent time to refresh a small garden with perennials. Discover five choices that bring colourful blooms, fragrant foliage and lasting appeal to outdoor spaces.</p><img><p>Chrysanthemums bring rich autumn colours to small gardens, with blooms in shades ranging from yellow and orange to pink and purple. Choose a sunny spot to encourage healthy flowering. Regular feeding and mulch around the base can help support the plants through colder weather.</p><img><p>Catmint is a spreading perennial with soft, silvery foliage and blue-lilac flowers. Its aromatic leaves release a pleasant scent when brushed against. Plant it along garden borders or pathways to add texture, colour and fragrance without taking up too much space.</p><img><p>Hardy geraniums offer colourful flowers in shades of pink, white, blue and purple. Some varieties also have aromatic foliage that releases a herbal or earthy scent when touched. These versatile plants can add colour and ground-level interest to garden borders.</p><img><p>Asters brighten autumn gardens with daisy-like flowers in shades of purple, blue, pink, red and white. Their contrasting yellow centres make the blooms especially eye-catching. October planting can work well when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged.</p><img><p>Bluebeard adds clusters of blue flowers and aromatic grey-green foliage to garden spaces. Its late-summer and autumn blooms can attract bees and butterflies. This compact shrub is a lovely option for adding colour without overwhelming a smaller garden.</p>
