Fall Planting Time!
What should you plant in fall? A LOT.
Above is the photo of the planter we did last fall for Ivy & Sparrow in Downtown Lee's Summit. We filled it with pansies, mums, ornamental kale and peppers, celosia, and Swedish ivy.
Now is an excellent time to start clearing out your summer pots and putting in flowers for September and October blooms.
Here is my list of favorites for fall flower pot planting:
Mums. Opt for locally grown - you'll get a much healthier plant and longer lasting.
Ornamental Kale, Cabbage, & Peppers. These Ornamental veggies add the color and texture for sophistication.
Pansies - they aren't just for spring they LOVE the cooler fall weather. Be sure to dead head down to the base of the stem to keep them blooming.
Celosia - bold and bright and adds height!
Marigolds
Dianthus or Sweet William
Millet - purple is my favorite
Grasses for height and texture
Fall Planting Perennials
September is a great time to add perennials to your landscape. Here are some of my favorites for fall color:
Hardy Mums
Sedum - I LOVE "Autumn Joy" and "Thunderhead"
Coneflower also known as echinacea
Rudbeckia also known as Black Eyed Susans
Caryopteris
Coreopis
Russian Sage
Whatever you plant, be sure to fertilize, water well, and through the winter, water once monthly, PLUS add leaves to help new plants (Do this in December). Leaves add a nice layer to insulate plus as they break down, add nutrients back to the soil.
Clean Up Tips for Fall into Winter:
Once tomatoes are done, throw the entire plant away. Leaves left behind encourage disease and fungus.
Collect mulched leaves to add to flower beds (see note above).
After you clear out your veggie garden, add fresh compost, mulched leaves and cover with a tarp. This will help soil health, kill off weed seeds, and allow you to start planting sooner. This is what we do for our beds and have seen a tremendous difference following this practice!
Roses - do not prune in fall. Prune in Spring.
Hydrangeas - if you have hydrangeas that bloom on new wood - cut them back after we get our first killing frost or later (December or January). (Limelight and Annabelle) Read more here.
Cut back perennials but not all the way - leave 3 to 4 inches. In December - add mulched leaves to protect through winter.
