Candy's Garden Oasis

Planting Fall Flowers for Color

17th October, 2009 - Posted by candy - No Comments

When homeowners start thinking about fall colors in their landscaping, they normally think of trees or shrubs that bear colorful leaves in the fall. But do not forget about planting fall flowers! Everyone gets the flower planting bug in spring. But fall flower planting is the time for the true gardener to shine.

Growing fall flowers in the garden will enhance landscaping that is already graced by the colorful leaves of the fall trees. But if your landscaping lacks such trees altogether, planting fall flowers takes on even greater importance.

But exactly when do you make fall plantings? You certainly shouldn’t wait for fall itself, unless you live in a warm climate. Doing so would minimize your enjoyment of the flowers. On the other hand, even in the North it’s usually too hot to plant through the first part of August. So the window of opportunity for planting can be quite small.

Making matters worse is the fact that there’s no set date I can give you for planting, even for particular regions. Rather, it’s something that has to be played by ear.

Fall flower planting do not need to be limited to hardy flowers — plants that will survive the first frost. Such hardy plants are, indeed, useful. A few good one are chrysanthemum, flowering cabbages and dusty miller, all of which will provide the landscape with color well after frosty weather arrives. But don’t be afraid to mix in some tender annuals, too. Their contribution will be brief, but spectacular.

Marigolds are a good example, because they bloom in the classic fall colors: orange, yellow, gold, etc. But not everyone favors these traditional fall color schemes. Some prefer the pinkish-purple chrysanthemums over other colors, and another perennial, the purple aster, is popular for fall planting.

Regardless of the color scheme you choose for your landscape design, do not forget to include fall flowers when landscaping your front yards in fall. Northern landscapers, in particular, should heed this reminder. Winter will bring its silence soon enough; let the landscape sing the praises of summer one more time. It will be your last opportunity until spring. Just remember to have fun and enjoy. Until next time Candy.