“The days are getting shorter, there's a little chill in the air at sunset, and the temps are dropping. You know what that means—autumn is on its way, and it's time to give our gardens a fresh new…”
String of Pearls
Senecio rowleyanus
The days are getting shorter, there's a little chill in the air at sunset, and the temps are dropping. You know what that means—autumn is on its way, and it's time to give our gardens a fresh new look for the season.
Between the heat, drought, and the end of summer, a lot of annuals and tender perennials are looking pretty tattered right now. It might be time to pull the spent annuals, but there's no reason to leave empty holes in your garden:
• Swap out those tired warm-season annuals for cool-loving pansies and ornamental cabbages and kales—they'll freshen everything right up.• In cold-winter areas, tuck pine boughs over your pansies or violas when temps drop and they start fading. They just might survive winter and reward you with an early flush of blooms come spring!• When the ground is nearing freezing, plant spring-flowering bulbs like tulips in those empty spots left by the annuals you pulled out.• I always say autumn is a fantastic time to plant perennial ornamental grasses. Those gorgeous browns, golds, and rusts are perfect for the season, and you'll be ahead of the game come spring.• Pot up any tender perennials or annuals you want to save. On warm days, tuck the potted plants right into the garden to fill gaps, then stash them in the garage on cooler nights. When winter really arrives, bring the perennials indoors to overwinter.• Pumpkins, gourds, and decorative corn are classic autumn additions that I just love. Fair warning though—hungry squirrels and deer love them too, so add them knowing they might become a critter snack one day!• Plan ahead: Before it gets too cold, scout out trees and shrubs you can take cuttings from for winter container gardens and home decorating.
