Annuals:

Planting can continue throughout the fall and winter.  Cool season annuals are starting to arrive at the Garden Center- such as Petunias, Dianthus, Marigolds, and Snapdragons. Look for Pansies and Violas later in the month.  Dead head flowers to encourage new blooms.  The new Proven Winner Supertunia is an outstanding performer.  Spreading to 3’ with tons and tons of blossoms, it provides a real showstopper for the landscape!  Supertunia are available in a variety of colors as well! Customers with deer- always let your salesperson know that you have deer as many flowers make a great snack for them, sadly.

Wildlife:

From early fall to late winter deer (bucks) will rub their antlers on the stem or trunk of a tree.  Bucks do this to remove the velvet that has been growing on their antlers.  Any tree in your landscape can be susceptible to damage.  Trees that are damaged with vertical scrapes or shredded bark- can suffer minor to severe damage- depending on the temperatures and whether the damage is only on one side of the tree or all the way around.  If you see evidence of this on trees in your garden, consider getting protectors for your trees. 

Speaking of deer, there are many, many lists published by government agencies, garden centers and landscaping companies, that provide insight into plants that are “deer resistant”. Despite these lists, there is always the possibility that something that hadn’t been on the menu for years, suddenly is on the menu this year, as the wildlife becomes more stressed.  If you are new to the area, speak to your neighbors or look around your neighborhood to see what seems to be working for them. If you don’t know what those plants you see are, take a picture and stop by with it. We will happily identify it for you.  The rule of thumb as it relates to deer is “never, say never.”