Fall is really a great time to plant perennials, trees, shrubs, and bulbs. The plants are grateful to be able to go “dormant” for the winter in the wake of enduring the stress of planting and transplanting, instead of being expected to start “performing” after being planted in spring.
However, there is one major step you can take to get your plants off to a great start, and that’s making sure your soil is up to snuff.
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Now is the perfect time to get your lawn ready for winter. After the terrible (and ongoing) drought, most lawns – even those that have been subject to sprinklers – look like baseball in-fields. That’s because sprinklers just can’t keep up with the heavy demands that most types of turfgrass place on the environment when it comes to water.
First, it’s best to know what kind of grass you have: cool-season vs. warm-season.
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Many states have “native plant” societies, and Maryland is no exception. Thanks to the awareness raised by organizations in our own backyard, such as Brookside Gardens, the National Arboretum, and the U.S. Botanic Garden, more people are now eager to use native plants in their landscapes.
But what is a “native” plant? Native plants are those that evolved naturally in North America. In particular, native plants in a specific region are those that were growing there before humans introduced plants from other places.
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Fall is an ideal time for planting perennials, shrubs, spring-blooming bulbs and, of course, trees. Nurseries are starting to receive shipments of cypress, spruces, hollies, cherries, maples, oaks, and other standard favorites. But how well do these trees really perform in our soil and climate? What should you know before make that investment?
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I like impatiens and petunias, and flowering vinca saves the day in times of intense heat and humidity, but this year I’ve really fallen hard for two terrific annuals: deep purple Browallia speciosa (also called amethyst flower) and the cheery yellow Melampodium paludosum (also known as blackfoot). These underused annuals really stand up to our Washington (DC) summers. I put in just a few market packs of each in May, and they are practically shrubs now, choking out weeds in the border without requiring ANY deadheading. I’ve read they tolerate light shade, but mine are out in full sun and are quite happy. The melampodium even reseeds, so I’ve had some happy surprises in bare spots. I’d recommend these annuals for beds, borders, containers — anywhere you want a splash of no-fuss color.
Stumble it!