There are many great flowers for the fall season, but hydrangeas and daisies won’t last forever. But you can still have a stunning garden after summer ends. A few of these flowers are cosmos, sunflowers, chrysanthemums, and Japanese anemones. Read on to find out the best plants for fall gardens! Here are some ideas for your next fall garden.
Mums
One of the best parts of the fall season is the arrival of mums. These colorful plants have long blooming periods and can be grown indoors or outdoors in a window box or terracotta pot. These blooming plants complement pumpkins and are versatile enough to grow on patios and decks. Despite their versatility, they still require some TLC. Here are some tips for planting mums in your fall garden.
Select taller mums for cutting purposes. Split stem ends improve water absorption and help prevent drying out. Choose tall spider mums. The spider mum Jessica, for example, is 3 1/2 feet tall and produces a dazzling yellow blossom. Another old-fashioned favorite is the French Vanilla. It has 3 1/2 inch white flowers and is hardy to zone 3. The flowering season lasts for up to four weeks, depending on the variety.
While mums are perennials, planting them in the fall reduces their chances of surviving the winter. They need to be pruned frequently until they have flower buds. After blooming in the fall, do not prune mums. Leave the dead foliage on for the winter. A well-watered mum will be in full bloom by July 4th. So, plant mums as early as possible. And remember to water them frequently!
Asters
If you want to grow beautiful asters but can’t afford to buy the flowers, you can always grow them yourself. They’re a hardy plant that will thrive in part shade. Ensure that the soil is well drained and free from standing water. You can give asters a light spring fertilization, but be careful not to overdo it, or the plant will suffer from legginess and less blooms. After blooming, pinch the stems back to promote bushier growth and more blooms.
Asters come in many varieties. Choose one that best suits your climate and soil type. You can also choose to plant them in a group of several. Depending on your desired flower color, asters can be planted in groups. The basic qualities of asters are height, bloom color, and bloom time. Asters can brighten any fall garden and look great when grown in multiples. Asters should also be watered regularly to keep them looking their best.
Asters grow best in full sun or partial shade. Some varieties will tolerate partial shade. For partial shade gardens, choose wood aster. A good soil will also be well-drained; soil that is too wet can cause root rot, while too dry and sandy may lead to wilting. If you aren’t willing to wait until late fall to plant your asters, you can always start them from seed in early spring.
Veggies
If you are considering planting a fall garden, there are several important factors to consider. The best time to plant seeds is before the first frost. It is best to plant the seeds at least 50 days before the first frost in your region. Vegetables that take 75 days to mature are best planted 50 days before the first frost. If you miss the ideal planting window, you should either purchase starter plants from a nursery or set a reminder for yourself to start the seeds earlier next year.
Radish is a good choice because it matures in less than a month. It can be planted in flats and transplanted about 10 weeks before the first frost. The True Leaf Market variety matures in about 48 days and produces a heavy yield. Another good choice is the heirloom variety of spinach. This vegetable grows well in cooler weather and produces lots of leaves. It will also survive the first frost.
Winter vegetables include kale, broccoli, and spinach. They can be harvested even when temperatures fall below freezing. You can also dehydrate kale leaves and use them as chips. Applying a layer of mulch to your vegetables will prolong their lives and protect them from cold weather. Onions can be planted in autumn or early winter as well. The early planting of onion sets will ensure that their roots can establish before the soil freezes and is not destroyed.
Shrub roses
In the fall, you’ll need shrub roses to bloom. The following list contains hardy, disease-resistant varieties, each of which is perfect for fall garden design. Rugosa: These are compact shrubs with rough leaves and prickly stems. They have clusters of fragrant, single or semidouble blooms throughout the growing season. Rugosa is a good choice if you’re looking for a bushy, disease-resistant group of shrub roses. Similarly, the Tea has semidouble to fully double blooms that appear in spring and fall.
As for selection, you can use a reputable guide to choose the best shrub roses for fall garden design. Most nurseries deal with number one grades of roses. The top grade, as the name suggests, produces the most vigorous plants. If you want to purchase a bargain rose, remember that it is likely a “cut-rate” variety, so extreme care should be taken to choose the best one.
If you’re planting in a mass area, try the everblooming type. This variety is resistant to black spot and is low-growing, staying below three feet. The flowering season begins in April, and the plant blooms again in October. It shuts down during 90-degree days. To help the roses stay healthy, Mike Shoup recommends amending the soil with organic matter and applying a three-inch layer of native hardworking bark mulch to the soil. He also recommends never using synthetic fertilizer.
Winter radishes
When planting radishes, make sure to use an appropriate soil amendment and follow plant care instructions. Radishes need a consistent, even moisture supply or they will develop pithy or pungent roots. Use a drip irrigation system if you do not have one. Mulch with wood ashes to keep root maggots at bay and weed regularly. Radish varieties come in two seasons – spring and winter. Choose a longer, thinner variety or a shorter, thicker one.
When planting radishes, choose a soil that is rich in organic matter. This soil will support radishes’ roots, but should not be too heavy. If your soil is heavy with clay or other minerals, they may be too heavy for them to grow. Instead, amend the soil with compost and wood ashes to keep aphids away. You can refresh the compost frequently.
Radishes are not only delicious, but also nutritious. They contain some vitamin C and iron, but not in enough quantity to be considered a significant source of these nutrients. These crisp, flavorful vegetables also add a zing to salads and other dishes. Aside from being a great addition to your fall garden, radishes are also a great addition to salads.
Baby spinach
Fall is the best time to plant greens. The temperatures are cool, so they can be harvested in the fall and early winter. Spinach is the perfect plant for the fall season because it grows fast and is less likely to bolt or go to seed. The baby leaves are ready to use in salads in about two to three weeks. Mature spinach can be harvested in about 40 days. It also tastes better in the fall than the spring.
If you want to plant spinach in the fall, you should prepare the soil well. Add plenty of microbially rich compost to the soil to improve drainage. Avoid surface compaction, as compacted soil can stress the spinach plants, resulting in yellowed, stressed leaves. Spinach prefers temperatures between forty and sixty degrees Fahrenheit. Planting it in the spring will yield better results, but it should be noted that the plant will bolt faster if the temperatures are too hot.
After planting spinach in the fall, you can harvest it by snipping off the outer leaves and leaving the crown intact. The leaves of spinach are best when picked young, so make sure to pick the baby leaves as soon as they are ready. Harvesting is best done when the leaves are at least three inches long. However, you can harvest entire plants from two to three separate rows. To maximize your yield, plant two or three spinach rows in succession.