Fall Gardening

Fall is coming and it is time to start thinking of adding color to your fall garden. The cooler temperatures make it much more pleasant to work in the garden and it makes it easier on your plantings, too. You will want to start toward mid-August to take advantage of the full colors, or plant in September for a gorgeous fall color show next fall. Watch for long periods of cool with plenty of rain or you will stress your plants too much and they will become sick or simply die.

Spring annuals will be on sale at this time of the year, so adding them to your fall beds for a spectacular bit of color won't put a crimp in your wallet. You can choose stunning reds, or marigolds in traditional fall colors. Should you choose to purchase some spring annuals, look for color, shape and form to add a special spark to your fall garden. Remember, you can purchase sickly, inexpensive plants and, in containers, nurse them back to health before your fall color show.

In general, come September you should cut back things that have stopped blooming or that have become diseased. Make sure to remove these diseased parts from your garden so they don't infect the soil or other plants. September is also the time to divide your perennials and take the tender bulbs indoors. You should also harvest the remainder of your vegetables (even green tomatoes) as well as gather herbs for freezing or drying before the first frost. Early fall is also the ideal time for planting shrubs and trees.

Some pretty fall perennials:

Sedum Spectabile: Also called Autumn's Joy, this lovely deciduous broadleaf grows to a height of as much as 2 feet with succulent green leaves and large, flat heads of dusty pink flowers. This is an easy flower to take care of.

Chrysanthemum: This is the flagship flower of fall, although in some European countries they are used only for funerals. These offer lovely large flowerheasd in a variety of colors. There are many varieties, but your best bet, especially in Northern climates, is to choose "hardy mums". Even these will require mulching and some protection once the frost comes.

Caryopteris: Also known as the Blue Mist Shrub, this low-growing shrub blooms slowly throughout August in beautiful blue flowers. It attracts birds and bees and should be cut back in late winter for optimal growth.

Heath Aster: Also known as the Kansas Aster, this late-blooming flower shows pretty white or delicately pink flowers. Often considered a weed, this is actually a very charming flower and can reach several feet in height and will branch out to cover a large area. This is simply perfect in a cottage garden, or as the background for some smaller plants