Pots and border plants that will flower reliably in September in midlands

[Rabbitwoffle]

We are having a huge anniversary party in the garden, mid september and I have South facing deck with lots of pots and plenty of border space. Hoping for good ish weather and bbq in the garden. Usually when I have to get the garden look a bit presentable I just do some emergency garden centre last minute panic and have been known to just place pots of plants into my otherwise dreary flowerbeds! But I have no excuse this time and could do with getting sorted so the garden looks ok. We tend to have pinks and purples but not too fussed about colour. Borders are pretty sheltered and dry. I do like easy.. Any inspiration? TIA

Apologies if this popped up twice!

I dis the same for my daughters wedding, late August wedding. I went a bit mad and filled the pots, borders and hanging baskets with colour.
Fuchsia flower well into Autumn. I had some still in flower in December.
Most bedding plants should still be ok.
You need to get them planted up soon to allow them to establish and spread out.
I stocked up at my local garden centre yesterday, they have punnets of various varieties of bedding plants for 1.99 for a punnet of six plants. I spent a small fortune!
Geraniums, Busy Lizzie, violas, verbenas, begonia, lobelia, trailing ivy, pansies, nepeta, etc etc.?

Yes, did do an accidental splurge at the garden centre yesterday.. I will go back and get some Russia I think. Thank you

Keep dead heading to keep them flowering. The plant wants to produce seed, so to prevent that you cut the dead flowers off before the seed pods form.

Asters and chrysanthemums are Autumn flowering and come in bright colours, for instant impact. Usually easily obtainable in garden centres towards the end of summer.

Dahlias. They look fantastic at that time of year and if you keep deadheading, or pinching out growth early in the summer, they can be at their prime in September.

As well as the suggestions above, I really recommend Cosmos. I grow these in quite challenging conditions (windswept, full sun, dry soil), but these always do well for me, especially around September/October.

If you want them to flower in September, I'd get them as bedding plants now, rather than big pots. That way, they shouldn't peak too early.

Thanks, fab suggestions xx

I was only half listening but I'm sure there was a very similar question discussed on Gardeners Question time last week .
I think one of the suggestions was growing nasturiums in pots and trailing them over any blank spaces on the day .
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08rtjk2