Autumn is on the Horizon

Start by taking a walk about your property and carefully assessing the condition of your gardens. Chances are that some of your annuals are looking bloomed out and tired. Either clean them up a bit to make them more presentable, or dig them out, altogether. You can either replace them with new annuals, knowing that you’ll probably get another couple of months out of them, or get a head start on spring and plant your perennials now. Or you can just leave some space for seasonal annuals that you will plant later on, such as pansies. Don’t forget to leave room for spring-blooming bulbs like daffodils.

Next, take a look at your containers. Those can go south quickly towards the end of summer. This is a good time to switch over to your fall combinations. Start by dumping out the old potting soil. Don’t cheat. Reusing potting soil could foster the growth of potentially harmful fungus or bacteria. Go for an autumnal arrangement of mums, pansies, ornamental grasses, etc. that will last right up to the holiday season. Don’t be afraid to use perennials like Blanket Flower in your combinations. You can always transplant them into the garden when you redo your containers.

Do you grow cool weather crops? If you don’t, your garden is just sitting there dormant for months during the fall and spring months when it could be producing all kinds of tasty goodies. Late August is the optimal time to sow your seeds for fall crops of salad greens, radishes, beets, carrots, broccoli, peas, beans, and kale. Most of these crops laugh in the face of frosty nights. Well, not literally. Keep your gardens going until a few heavy frosts do their duty, and then start the same crops over again in March.

Let’s face it...we don’t live in New England, so our autumns take a long time to rev up. That means that you still can get some impressive blooms out of your perennials. Snip back perennials like salvia, catmint, coreopsis and autumn sages for one last show of flowers. Knock-Out roses can still be gently trimmed for abundant fall bloom, but don’t go crazy with the pruners; a gentle trim will do the trick.

For flowers in late fall and winter you’ll need a camellia – or two. These beautiful evergreen shrubs put on a show with their pink, white, red or tri-color flowers - a real treat when nothing else is blooming outside. And Witch Hazel blooms in late fall or early winter, boasting dark yellow, orange, or red flowers, depending on the species. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment when it comes to gardening. But if you try to stay one season ahead, you’ll guarantee year-round beauty!