Fall Garden Color: Extending the Season into Autumn

Planning for Fall Color

A little forethought in spring creates a garden that peaks when most others are winding down. Fall gardens offer rich, warm colors and the last hurrah before winter.

Fall-Blooming Perennials

• Asters: The queens of fall, available in purple, pink, white, and blue
• Sedums: Succulent foliage topped with flat flower clusters
• Japanese anemones: Elegant pink or white flowers on tall stems
• Goldenrod: Native beauty that attracts pollinators
• Chrysanthemums: Classic fall color in endless varieties

Late-Season Annuals

These annuals shine in cooler fall weather:

• Ornamental cabbage and kale—color intensifies with cold
• Pansies—will often survive mild winters
• Snapdragons—second wind in fall coolness
• Flowering cabbage—architectural interest

Fall Planting Opportunities

Fall is actually an excellent planting time:

• Cooler temperatures mean less transplant stress
• Roots establish through fall and winter
• Plants are often on sale
• Rainfall reduces watering needs

Extending the Season

• Use frost cloth to protect tender plants from early frosts
• Move containers to protected spots near the house
• Choose cold-tolerant varieties that handle light freezes
• Site fall plantings in sunny, sheltered spots

Preparing for Spring While Enjoying Fall

Fall is the time to plant spring-blooming bulbs. Interplant them among fall flowers—by the time bulbs emerge, fall plants will be cleared away.