Fresh Garden Color for Fall

September 1, 2015 | By webadmin

Are you tired of the heat and ready to refresh the landscape? If so, we have some great ideas for you!  By early September, some of your summer color may be in need of a refresh. Heat stress often makes color fade and plants wilt. Now is a great time to pull out the old and plant things that thrive in cooler temperatures.

Here are a few of our favorites to add to the garden and containers for fresh curb appeal.

Fall Asters

Did you know that fall blooming asters are perennials in North Texas? We love them for their dependable and bountiful fall blooms. Varieties are available in shades of purple, pink and white.  Be sure not to overwater as asters need good drainage. You can plant asters as annuals if you like; simply pull plants once they are finished blooming. Or, leave them as perennials in your landscape beds. Prune them in early spring for a fresh flush of growth.

Sweet Alyssum

The strong, sweet fragrance of sweet alyssum is unmistakable in the fall and winter garden. We think sweet alyssum is best in pure white, but it is also available in bloom shades of purple, pale pink or lavender. Its mounds of tiny flowers create a sweet scented border in your garden beds; or use alyssum to spill beautifully over the sides of container gardens. Grow alongside other fall beauties such as dianthus, mums, poppies and ornamental kale.

Swiss Chard

Not only is Swiss chard delicious in salads, sautés and soups, but it makes a beautiful foliage backdrop for your blooming color. This Texas-tough leafy green produces a profusion of glossy dark green leaves, accented with colorful mid-veins, from fall through spring. Swiss chard can be harvested as an edible throughout the entire growing season. Perfect for the landscape or pots.

Cherianthus

If you’re looking for something a little different, but that will still offer up lots of bright color and flowers, try some cherianthus this fall. Available in both orange or bright lemon-yellow, cherianthus brightens up both the fall and winter garden here in Dallas. Plant in the landscape along with pansies and greens, or drop into containers for a pop of bright color.

English Daisy

At only six-inches tall, you might think it easy to miss the tiny English Daisy. But with a dense form of two-inch flowers, we’re sure that the English daisy will hold her own in your garden. English daisies are perfect for cool-season containers, or used as an edging border in the garden.

Maintenance

Keep your fall color looking its best by deadheading plants (removing spent blooms) through the season, watering regularly and feeding each month with a quality fertilizer that encourages blooms. No time before the holiday season to plant your own fall or winter color? We can help with that!