| Instant Fall Color |
Sometimes the heat of summer seems to drain the vitality out of your garden -- as well as the gardener! If you need a boost of color for fall, here are some ideas:
Mums are a fall tradition, and why not? They can remind us of the football games we attended as students and the festivities of Halloween and Thanksgiving to come. But most of all, they are so varied and so colorful that they offer endless possibilities for the garden.
If you do not already have mums in your perennial border, we can help you select some that will give you color right away.
Ornamental kale now comes in a variety of sizes, colors and styles. This is not the kale you would plant in the edible border for use in salads! Purely an ornamental plant, this kale adds interest in the fall garden right up to hard frost time.
Remember the ideas we gave you for brightening the garden with annuals last spring? They can also be useful again now as we head into the cooler temperatures of fall. Here are two of the best to consider.
Pansies arrive this week and they come in so many lively colors. They are a must in the fall garden.
Snapdragons are also a sure bet for early fall. If you planted some in spring they likely are still doing well, as they are very versatile and hearty in the garden. If not, consider adding some for fall.
Finally, we have a wide variety of ornamental grasses in stock. Grasses can add interest to your garden right now and for years to come. |
| Top Dressing the Lawn | |
Top dressing is not a fashion show in the garden, but a smart move if you want to continue to minimize the need for pesticides on your lawn. The basic principle at work here is that a healthy, lush lawn leaves little or no room for weeds to invade.
Topdressing is a technique for improving the lawn in areas where it is sparse or uneven. The best time to topdress is September. Here's what to do:
The seed will germinate in the fall, when weather is typically wetter and by spring these areas will fill in nicely with a healthier lawn. |
| In Our Next Issue |
Hydrangeas
Mulching leaves
Planting spring bulbs
Dividing spring blooming perennials
Aerating the lawn
and more!
|
|
|
| Featured Plant: Japanese Anemone | |
 Japanese anemone is a perennial you can't be without if you want to have a unique fall garden. Just now, as other perennials are past their blooming, and everyone is thinking about putting in mums and kale for some fall color, this fall-blooming anemone (different than the woodland variety that blooms in early spring) is sending up flower stalks that can reach 5' tall. These stalks are topped with lovely blooms that look a bit like single roses.
The leaves of this plant are large and glossy and though they do not emerge until mid-May, they provide a mass of foliage in the garden all season and suddenly in fall, they bloom prolifically. They prefer light shade but tolerate full sun. They also need good drainage.
Robustissima and September Charm are pink, while Honorine Jobert is pure white. Japanese anemone comes with both double and single flowers, depending on the variety you select. It looks best when planted in a grouping, in front of shrubs or in the back of your flower border. Best of all, it will bloom from early September to frost!
Over time, Japanese anemone will spread, but it is not invasive. Plants can be divided in spring. |
| How's Your Fall Perennial Border? | |
There is so much possibility for color in the fall perennial border, if you've planned ahead and if you are observant. Here are some tips to think about for the future if your fall garden lacks color or variety this year.
 Walk around your garden and note where color is lacking. Do you need taller plants in these spots, or shorter ones? Is it the front or the back that needs improving? Take notes!
Look at other gardens you like better than yours. What has the gardener done to give the fall garden variety and color? Make notes!
Ornamental grasses are in their glory in the fall, when they bloom. Look for grasses you like. The unique blooms of each are worth close inspection. Grasses also vary in height and will therefore fit in your garden in different ways. Which do you like? Which ones will enhance your garden most?
From now until the first frost, observe carefully those perennials that are blooming. You can expect to see our feature plant as well as monkshood, goldenrod, Cardinal flower, blue lobelia, asters, and many others besides mums! Which do you like? Which ones will work on your garden?
Compile your notes and then write down what you want to do with your garden to ensure better color and variety next fall! Do it now, since you can see all the things that should be happening in the fall. Then come to the Garden Center to shop.
|
| Contain your Creativity in these Fall Arrangements |
Replanting your containers for fall can also help spruce up the garden for its final debut this year.
The most successful fall containers keep these rules in mind:
- When considering variety, think about foliage color and texture as well as flowers.
- Don't hesitate to use grasses and perennials as well as cool season annuals.
- Use mini-evergreens - we have many that will do well in containers.
- Use plants that can survive several light frosts or that will keep their shape even after they have been tinged by frost.
- Don't be afraid to use bare branches to add interest and even color.
Here's one sample recipe to show you how all these considerations work together:
Red Twig Dogwood twigs
Coral Bells (Palace purple or Plum Pudding)
White and red pansies
English Ivy
Finally, consider carefully how the backdrop of walkways, arbors, or other hardscape features in the garden can enhance your containers. These features will become more prominent as plants die. This may cause you to move them to a different spot then they have been all summer. |
| Fall Container Class at the Garden Center | |
Join us at the Garden Center to create a beautiful Fall Container using cool weather annuals!
Saturday, September 18, 2010 - 10 AM
$35 fee includes all materials. Call 847-824-7411 to register in advance - space is limited! |
|
|
|
|
