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The Technicolor Fall

So many plants, so little time! Why, when it comes to planting for fall color, do we tend to settle for just mums and winter pansies? There is an endless variety plant choices to enhance your garden this fall. Allow us to introduce to you some of our most colorful favorites.

LEAF COLOR

Dwarf Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’) – This shrub truly lives up to its name. With brilliant red fall coloring, this choice, compact form is excellent for hedge and specimen use. Height: 8-10’ Spread: 8-10’

Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii) – This unique shrub has brilliant yellow, orange and scarlet fall coloration, often all on the same leaf. Height: 2-3’ Spread: 2-4’

Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica) – Choose from many varieties that reveal colors ranging from orange to fiery red to burgundy.

Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica) – An under used landscape plant with white flowers in June, followed by a superb fall show of brilliant reddish-purple leaves. Loves moist areas and is perfect for massing and naturalizing. Height: 3-4’ Spread: 5-6’

Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) – This plant boasts large, coarse, deep green foliage that turns a stunning scarlet shade in the fall. Upright panicles of white flowers appear in late June. Tolerates partial shade. Height: 5-6’ Spread: 6-7’

Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) or Virginia Creeper (P. quinquefolia) – Decorate a fence or pergola with these popular vines and watch as the shady greens of summer give way to fiery reds as winter approaches. Both these plants are vigorous and self-clinging, so site carefully and prune yearly to keep under control. Grows 40-50 long.

FLOWER COLOR

Franklinia (Franklinia alatamaha) - This underused, but beautiful, small specimen tree bears white, yellow centered flowers from July to September, then provides excellent orange-red fall color. Height: 10-15’ Spread: 6-9’

Common Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) - A large, disease free plant ideal for naturalizing. Yellow fragrant tassels are conspicuous in October through November with showy yellow fall foliage. Height: 15-20’ Spread: 15-18’

Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis paniculata) - Sweet autumn clematis is covered with billowy masses of extremely fragrant, inch-wide white flowers from late summer to early fall, at a time when many other garden plants are finishing their bloom. Carefree and easy to grow, it's a vigorous vine that can reach 30 feet

FRUIT AND BERRY COLOR

Crabapple (Malus species) - A few crabapple trees have good fall color, but most are grown for their showy spring flowers and attractive, brightly colored fruit. Crabapples are best grown in a sunny location with good air circulation and have no particular soil preferences, except soil should be well drained.

Purple Beautyberry (Callicarpa diochotoma) – Incredible electric purple berries from September through the end of October. Leaves turn yellow in the fall and fruit persists beyond leaf drop. An easy to grow shrub! 2 – 4’ high x 3 – 5’ wide.

Winter Berry Holly (Ilex verticillata) - Persistent red berries make this plant a standout for the winter landscape. Several selections like ‘Sparkleberry’ range in size from 3-14’ high by 4-8’ wide. Some tolerate wet feet and all selections are excellent for attracting birds to the landscape.

Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea) - Pyracantha has many uses in the garden, but it is probably most commonly grown as an evergreen wall shrub. In the autumn and early winter, the glowing, brightly colored berries greatly enhance walls. Although they are most well known for the vibrancy of their berries, their white or cream flowers are also extremely attractive in late spring. Plant in a sunny location.

Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) - Serviceberry is an attractive low-spreading shrub or small tree. The young branches and buds are reddish brown and smooth while the older twigs are gray. White flowers are plentiful, fragrant, and grouped in showy white clusters of 3-20 flowers. The fall berries are initially red, later ripening to dark purple.

Viburnum (Viburnum species) – This genus of shrubs and small trees is a valued food source for birds and other wildlife. Most plants in this group are tolerant of wet soil and partial shade, and are useful as specimens or for informal hedge and screen plantings. For fruit production, it is best to set out two or more plants of a species and plant in a sunny location.

Over-Wintering Container Plants Outdoors

What To Over-Winter

All containerized plants that are considered hardy in your zone can spend the winter outdoors. Make sure that plants go into the winter with moist soil so that there is water available to plant roots. Check soil moisture occasionally never allowing it to dry completely. It is also a very good idea to spray needled and broadleaf evergreens with an anti desiccant. This acts as a protective coating for plant foliage and stems as it helps them retain moisture.

METHODS

  1. In the late summer or fall, removed the plant from its container and plant in the ground. Another method is to bury the pot, with the plant in it, in the garden and remove the following spring. Both of these methods will insulate the root system preventing it from freezing solid and killing the root system.

  2. Place containerized plants in an unheated garage along a heated wall. This is an excellent method for very large pots or porous pots that tend to break apart from the constant cycle of freezing and thawing. For extra root protection, you may wrap the pots in plastic bubble wrap.

  3. Group pots together along the sunny side of your house or shed. If this area is windy, create a windscreen with stakes and burlap. Place bales of straw or hay around the perimeter of the grouping. Fill in areas between pots with mulch, shredded leaves or hay for insulation. Lay evergreen branches or place a layer of mulch on top of the pots for additional protection.

  4. Use a cold frame covered with plastic or reemay fabric to help control temperatures and reduce light as well. It will still be necessary to use mulch, shredded leaves or hay around and in-between pots for insulation. Rodent control, such as Havahart traps, may be necessary when using this method.