Fill your winter garden with color!

October 28, 2013 | By webadmin

Did you know that fall is the best time to plant in North Texas? We love planting cool season color now because of the abundance of choices, the pops of color on dreary days and the ease of care for annuals planted in fall. You have so many options for how and where to plant … directly into the landscape, into pottery and window boxes, on porches, patios, along pathways, and even on balconies! Want to try something new? Mix in vegetables and herbs with your blooming plants. Not only will they add fragrance and texture to cool season designs, but you’ll have easy access to fresh edibles for seasonal recipes.

Iceland Poppies are a favorite cool-season annual to plant right now. Don’t wait until spring to plant these extraordinary bloomers, or plants won't thrive. When you plant them in fall, you’ll enjoy blooms until first frost. Then, once roots have established, you’ll have a big show of blooms in spring. They make a perfect companion to your spring-blooming tulips.

Pansies & Violas are of course the standard for cool-season color. But know that you’re not limited to just these two bloomers. There are a number of other beautiful cool-season bloomers such as dianthus, fragrant alyssum, snapdragons primrose, cyclamen and dusty miller.

Mix in these edibles as centerpieces:

• Parsley & Fennel attract butterflies and bloom tall in spring.
• Cilantro loves the cooler weather!
• Cabbage & Kale: you won’t find better texture for the cool season landscape.
• Broccoli. Leave a few to bloom big in spring. Attracts bees & butterflies!

And add these edibles as trailers: Oregano, mint (contain in pots!), rosemary, & thyme.

Let your imagination run free with your cool season containers. They are so much easier to maintain than summer plantings, and will keep your porch, patio and garden colorful and cheery through spring. Need help? Give us a call!