Category:
Gardening with Janet
Cool-season color brightens autumn landscapes
I think gardeners statewide are breathing a huge sigh of relief that summer is over. Gardens struggled mightily this growing season, and unless they were watered well, many plants did not thrive.
We had extreme heat for weeks at a time, with spotty rainfall. Color has been sorely lacking in many gardens, and now is a great time to remedy that. From cool-season annuals to fall-flowering perennials, along with instant color from pumpkins, gourds and Halloween decor, you have a lot of options. Clean up dead or damaged plants and start adding color.
| TYPE | OPTIONS | CHARACTERISTICS |
|---|---|---|
| Annuals | Pansies and violas Flowering kale and cabbage Giant purple mustard Swiss chard Snapdragons | Wide range of colors. Some have dark blotches or faces; some are solid. Should last through spring. Mounds of green with white, pink or purple leaves. Severe cold can burn them. Dramatic shades of purple and magenta foliage. Can get large over time. Cold-tolerant. Edible ornamental with brightly colored stems. Showy plants. Protect if temperatures fall below 28 degrees. If they are blooming at planting, they will bloom off and on all winter. If planted as small green plants, they may not bloom until spring. |
| Perennials | Asters Chrysanthemums Goldenrod Japanese anemones Perennial salvia | Shades of blue, pink or purple. Bloom for four to six weeks. Many color options. Often treated as annuals but can provide color for two months if watered. Numerous varieties with bright yellow flowers. Long-lived and drought-tolerant. Provide two to three months of color. Pink or white flowers bloom on delicate foliage. Showy plants bloom for two months. Wide range of plants to choose from, with variability in height and flower color. Long-lived and long-blooming. |
| Seasonal accents | Gourds Pumpkins Hubbard squash Cornstalks | Every year, the number of options increases. There are pumpkins and gourds in all sizes and colors. Mass them together to make a statement. They can last for two to three months. |