When choosing what to plant this season, it is important to look ahead and plan for both now and the coming months. The fall season is comprised of three months: October, November and December. Frost is possible in October, and the days are shorter and cooler. It is invigorating and joyful to be able to work doing a thorough cleanup after the heat of summer that often limits our gardening activities to early morning and early evening. Take care of these chores now before the weather gets too cold. Remember this will be the view of your garden when you are housebound because of inclement weather.
Cool season annuals that bloom fall through spring are a good choice to plant in early fall so they get established and start blooming before the weather turns cold. Six pack containers offer a variety of choices and are less expensive than four-inch containers. Keep in mind that winter can bring on feelings that can pull down our spirits, especially as seniors. Looking out at colorful annuals that thrive in the cool and inclement weather can really lift our spirits and dispel the dreary feelings that winter can bring.
- Calendula is a hardy and colorful annual that comes in bright yellow and orange. It is good in both beds and containers. It grows 1-2 ft. high, prefers sun and little to moderate water.
- Violas are invaluable for winter and spring bloom. Violas are colorful, sturdy and prolific bloomers. They come in amazing color pallets. Groupings of solid colors can be an outdoor decorating design delight.
- Pansies have larger flowers than violas, but are of the same family. They take shade or sun and really shine in mass plantings. Both violas and pansies are around 3 to 6 inches tall.
- Other taller choices are snapdragons, stock and Iceland poppy. If snapdragons are set out in early fall and reach bud stage before night temperatures drop below 50 degrees they will start blooming in winter and continue until weather gets hot.
Don't forget, fall is a great time to divide and move perennials. Use the opportunity of cooler weather to give tired beds a new look next spring. Remember to prioritize yourself first: what is your energy level and what strength limitations do you have? Think simple and low maintenance.
In November, frost is possible and the rainy season usually starts (we hope!) Fall color is at its peak. Plant perennials that are low maintenance and that can replace old and sad looking landscape specimens. Favorites for our area are penstemon, phlox, salvia and geraniums. Nurseries have a wide fall selection.
In December, frost is possible, but usually not a hard (killing) freeze. December is the dormant season. Set out pots of cyclamen to provide cheerful holiday color. Most nurseries have a good supply of 4 inch pots of color to cluster in large containers. Be sure to buy 4 inch size for instant color as smaller plants will just sit until spring.
Enjoy the cheerful color during the fall as you prepare for the cold and blustery winter days of January and February and the transitional month of March. Most of the cool weather annuals will continue to delight until the heat of summer ends their time, to be replaced by heat loving annuals.\
References:
The New Sunset Western Garden Book, Time Home Entertainment Inc, New York, NY 2012
Successful Gardening Month-By-Month, Sunset Books, Menlo Park, CA 1999