The Garden’s Second Season

Autumn doesn’t mark the end of the gardening year, it’s The Garden’s Second Season.   Yes, We are busy

  • Raking leaves and pulling up pitiful petunias
  • Planting Bulbs on hands and knees
  • Transplanting perennials and woody plants
  • Fertilizing and Re-Seeding the lawn
  • Re-Mulching flower beds

However, that doesn’t mean we can’t take a moment to appreciate all of the beautiful things that are happening this time of year.  There are many great plants for this season.  Some of them are still blooming from the Summer garden, while the Fall bloomers are just getting started.  Don’t forget to take notice of the changing colors as well!  Many of the plants whose flowers you enjoyed in the spring are beginning to take on the warm red, orange and yellow tones of Autumn.

Lingering Color

This is the time of year to really pay attention to the shrubs and perennials that are still blooming and showing off.  Adding those plants into your garden will extend it’s beauty and blooms as the seasons change.  Some good shrubs to use are Abelia, Butterfly Bush and Knock Out Roses.  A few of the lingering perennials are Coreopsis, Helianthus, Black Eyed Susan and Salvia.  There are some foliage plants such as Coleus, Artemesia and Sweet Potato Vine that were beautiful during the spring and summer, and will continue to show off during the fall.

Late Bloomers

The Garden’s Second Season also has a whole new cast of performers, that are sure to please.

  • Asters
  • Anemones
  • Pansies
  • Chrysanthemums
  • Fall Blooming Camellias
  • Sweet Autumn Clematis
  • Ornamental Grasses
  • Ornamental Cabbage and Kale

These are just a few of the plants that can add flowers and color to the Fall garden.  With these in your garden, you can make the cool Fall days even more enjoyable.  You can even plant these with some of the plants in your garden with good Fall color and make an awesome Fall display!

Changing Fall Color

With the cooler temperatures comes a whole new palette of colors.  The ruby reds, burnt oranges, yellows and golds that turn our trees and shrubs into explosions of color.  Some of the shrubs with colorful Fall foliage are Oak Leaf Hydrangeas, Viburnums, Spireas, Burning Bush, Fothergilla and Witch Hazel.  Sugar Maples, Red Maples, Birch, Sweetgum and Ginkgoes are some of the big show offs among the trees.  In addition to the leaf change, many plants are showing off with colorful berries and seed heads.  Beauty Berry, Hollies, Pyracantha, Nandina, Kousa Dogwoods and Crab Apples are a few of the trees and shrubs with colorful fruit.

As you can see there is a lot going on in the Autumn Garden, from blooms to foliage color.  Autumn truly is the Garden’s Second Season!