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5 easy ways to landscape this fall
View full sizeMums are an ideal choice to brighten containers or flowerbeds in fall.Fall is an excellent time of the year to garden because the climate is favorable for plants (and the gardener). Salter offers the following suggestions for getting started.
1. Color your yard.
If you want instant color, mums are a great choice. They offer an easy pop of color in an urn or in flowerbeds.
Make sure to buy locally grown mums that will last through the season. The best mums for this area become available in mid-September and last until Thanksgiving. Mums sold in August and early September are likely to perish due to the region’s excessive heat.
While mums are available in shades of white, maroon, orange, yellow, lavender and pink, other plants may be used as colorful accents. A few include dianthus, cabbage, kale and a variety of mustards.
2. Stock your kitchen.
Fall is a favorable time to plant vegetables along the Gulf Coast. Try cabbage, collards, cauliflower, celery, Brussels sprouts, turnips, spinach and onion sets, which flourish in our autumn weather.
This is also the best time of year to plant fruit trees such as pears, plums, apples, peach, blueberries and figs.
3. Launch your landscape.
Cooler weather and regular rainfall make autumn ideal for planting trees, shrubs and many perennials in our area. Before you start, have a game plan of how much you would like to spend.
Consider whether you want to do the construction yourself or hire a landscape design professional. Then plan your project in stages. Start with the larger plants, such as trees and shrubs, then work your way down to small shrubs, perennials and grasses. Finally, add in bulbs, annuals or border plants.
4. Add sizzle to small spaces.
If you have a small yard or patio, try container gardening. You can plant flowers, herbs and veggies. Or install a small fountain or koi pond to create your own private oasis.
5. Incorporate yard art.
Whether it’s a personalized design, a seasonal scene or the Stars and Stripes, a flag is a great addition to a flowerbed. Concrete yard art – such as a lion, elephant, or bird – will also add character to your landscape.
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