We’re Falling for These Beautiful Flowers
After a steamy summer, autumn’s cooler air temperatures are easier on both plants and gardeners, but the soil is still warm enough to allow roots to grow until the ground freezes. Fall flowers are just as beautiful as the flowers that bloom all summer long and are hardy enough to withstand some cool nights and light frosts. Ensure your plants are set up for success by putting them in the ground several weeks before it freezes so that they can establish root systems.
Pay attention to your plant’s watering needs as well. Some hot, dry days can be hard on plants, so don’t forget to water them if you haven’t had rain lately. Additionally, plants in containers, pots, and window boxes tend to dry out faster, so you’ll need to keep an eye on them after planting. Get these plants in the ground fall, and they’ll reward you with their breathtaking colors in the spring.
Our Favorite Fall Flowers:
Calendula- English or Pot Marigolds
Hardy annuals, calendula bring a cheery splash of color to beds and borders, and their deep orange petals can also be used raw in salads.
Sow calendula seeds in September where they are to flower. Begin improving the soil with well-rotted compost, or use a peat-free multi-purpose compost if planting in containers. They should bloom in May when sown in the fall.
Daffodils
The harbingers of spring, daffodils and narcissi fill beds and borders with their gently nodding yellow or white heads.
Daffodil bulbs are best planted in fall, in the sun or part shade. They like well-drained soil and should be planted 4-6 inches below the surface of the soil and the same distance apart.
Pansies
Winter flowering pansies can breathe new life into your fall garden and brighten up garden beds and containers through the colder and darker months with their pretty blooms available in a huge array of colorful combinations.
Start planting these small perennials in September to give their roots time to grow enough to survive the winter. By planting pansies in the fall, you’ll be able to enjoy their flowers through winter and again in spring.
While you might not think of fall as a time to get outside and plant, it actually presents a golden opportunity for some flowers to establish their roots.
