Proctor: Design you fall garden now

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KUSA – Although it’s still quite warm, sweater weather is not that far away. Coloradoans love fall weather and continue to spend time on their outdoor living areas. Brighten your patio, deck or balcony with spectacular flowers and foliage plants. Some may need to be covered at night as the first frost threatens but some, such as pansies and kale, can withstand freezing weather.

Fall gardening is all about texture and color. Contrast bright black-eyed Susans, hummingbird mint, cosmos, snap dragons, tall verbena or pansies with fine-textured grasses or bold kale or cannas. Many ornamental plants feature bronze or purplish leaves that set the mood for autumnal combinations. Look for bronze-leaved grasses, ornamental peppers, kale, coral bells and sweet potato vine. The latter two may be used to spill over the edges of pots. Lettuce, spinach and chard may also be used to good effect and provide organic greens at the same time.

Greenhouse-grown plants should be exposed to full sun gradually over a period of three or four days. Keep your new transplants well-watered during hot weather. As it cools down they will need less water but check them every day. A bloom booster type fertilizer will keep flowers blooming as long as you’re diligent about deadheading.

Plants are courtesy of Tagawa Gardens.

(KUSA-TV © 2013 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)