Plants of the Month: Fall Color

This time of year our thoughts turn to fall decorating and color for our homes! There are many ways to accomplish this.

(*Note – some of these may not be quite available yet-see expected dates)

Mums

Mums are the most popular potted plants during the Fall holidays because of their bright colors and easy care. Whether you add a bale of hay, fall leaves, pumpkins, gourds, scarecrow or simply set a pot of these flowers all by themselves at your entry they bring a welcoming fall warmth. After blooming, simply trim off the top 2″ for another round of color! When planting out in the garden use landscape soil and mushroom compost to enrich the soil, and choose a site that gets at least 4 hours of full sun daily. They’ll bring color to your garden every spring and fall. Perennial flower.

Mums should start arriving in the Garden Center in the next week or two. Remember, if you want mums to be in bloom closer to Thanksgiving, buy ones with tight buds or hold off for a bit longer.

Crotons:

Crotons are much loved for their brilliant color in the landscape! Petra has large leaves in shades of reds, oranges, yellows and greens that become even more vibrant in full sun. One of the best potted plants around the pool area that provide lots of color with no mess. Protect during hard freezes. If winter damaged established plants almost always recover quickly in spring. Fertilize spring and late summer with slow release fertilizer.

Crotons in various varieties are currently available in the Garden Center.

Petunias:

With such a wide range of colors to choose from Petunias are extremely valuable in the garden, providing color in masses in rock gardens, flower beds and borders, and of course, container plants for tubs, planters, and hanging baskets.  Plant in full sun, in moist, but well drained soil.  Add landscape soil and mushroom compost to enrich the soil and fertilize with slow-release bloomer.  Random pruning of lanky or untidy growth after first flush of flowers will encourage constant flowering rather than flushes of color.  Newer varieties of Supertunias are great! They have smaller flowers but do not require “dead heading”.  Simply pinch back or trim to control spread.

Pink Muhly Grass:

Beautiful lavender pink plumes adorn this easy-care grass in the early fall through to late fall at which point they become a beige color until they are done. Cluster a few together for greater impact. They are beautiful fall blooming plants to add interest to your garden.