Everybody says it, but few take it to heart: Fall is the best time for planting.
Yes, as the weather cools and trees and shrubs begin to go dormant, get serious about ways to change up your yard, transplant bushes that didn’t do as well as you expected, and add new options for beautiful color and interesting textures when spring arrives.
As fall brings cooler mornings and less high temperatures, look at your landscape and make plans to shake things up a bit. If plants and shrubs haven’t been performing up to snuff, move them later this fall and into early winter.
Garden Guru Walter Reeves always says, “A plant (or shrub) hasn’t found its proper place until it’s been moved at least three times.” Make plans now for ways to change up your yard once the true planting and transplanting has begun in late October through January.
If you’re like me, you probably have shrubs or perennials that didn’t perform well where they’re currently planted. I’m making a list of those – some hydrangeas, variegated Osmanthus Goshiki (also known as false holly), abelia, some smaller gardenias and a couple of Encore azaleas.
Have you planted shrubs, such as mop-head hydrangeas, in too much sun? They prefer morning sun and a northeast exposure with protection from harsh winds, so October will be a good time to relocate them. And remember that mopheads, the blue and pink bloomers, needed to be pruned right after they finished their summer show.
And, if you’re just getting around to pruning mopheads now, just STOP.
I pruned my mop-heads this summer in early August, barely cutting off the brown dry faded flowers. I expect a good flush of flower heads in July next year. They’ll get a good feeding with slow-release fertilizer as soon as the weather warms in April to push them along.
But my panicle hydrangeas love, love at least 5-7 hours of sun to produce stunning blooms. Just be careful about afternoon rays of a western exposure that may be just a bit too hot in the throes of summer. They’ll be pruned in the early spring and given a feeding of balance slow-release fertilizer.
Are your ever-blooming Encore azaleas only producing blossoms in the spring? It’s time to move them out of the shade. Encores should provide an impressive show in the spring, then a more reserved flush of blooms in the late summer building to another fine display from August into October. However, they need full sun to do their magic.
Confessions of a plant-aholic
– When friends come to visit they’re used to the 25 to 35 unplanted shrubs, trees, vining plants, fig trees, flowering ornamentals, perennials, daylilies and the like in our driveway. Truth be told, some of them have been in the driveway for about a half-dozen years, just because I don’t want to plant them in the wrong place.
– Some of them can be seen from the road, and I guess that’s not good. A couple of springs ago we had a party with plenty of cars in the driveway. Someone just driving by the next day asked, “Did you have a plant sale yesterday? I see you have some left and we want to buy them.”
– Argh! Needless to say we didn’t sell them a thing! And it didn’t motivate me to get these in the ground any sooner.
– I can’t go past a box retailer or specialty nursery without stopping – and adopting several additions to my landscape.
– A good friend gave me the most appropriate T-shirt ever: “It’s not hoarding if it’s plants.” I love to wear it to nurseries. The folks there just smile.
– I’m making a vow this fall. Into the ground these lovely potted plants will go. Even if it’s wrong, they can always be moved next fall.
Learn from the Masters (Gardeners, that is!)
“Growing Healthy Communities,” – Nov. 9, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., East Hall Community Center, Gainesville. Three speakers covering: Food Canning Basics, Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Producing Plants in Controlled Environments (such as greenhouses). $10 per person. (770) 535-8293. hallmastergardeners.com.