FALL IS FOR PLANTING
IN THE GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE
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Landscape and garden plants are more than
an aesthetic addition to your property. Researchers
have found that a well-landscaped yard increases home
value by an average of 7.5%, and speeds resale by 5 to
6 weeks. Landscape investments can be recovered
between 100 - 200% in increased home value.
SMUD has quantified the cooling effects of shade trees, which can cut attic temperatures by up to 40 degrees and conserve energy used to cool homes and buildings. In fact, shade trees are such an effective means of conserving energy that SMUD actually pays for programs to give trees to their customers in the Sacramento area! Other research has found that an average front lawn has the cooling effect of 10 tons of air conditioning, and that a single mature tree can remove 26 lbs. of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year. While gardeners are most active in the spring, fall is actually the ideal time of year for garden and landscape work in most of California. The mild weather and warm soil promote rapid root growth of plants, setting the stage for the vigorous top growth that follows in the spring. Many flowers can be started in October from seed or young starts purchased at your local nursery. The table accompanying this article lists many of the annual and perennial flowers you can choose from now. Some of these will flower this winter, while others will grow now and flower next spring and summer. Annuals are plants which complete a lifecycle in one growing season, giving a long season of color before they are replaced. Sweet peas are an example. Perennials will grow for several years, blooming again at the same time each year—though often for a shorter period than annuals. Chrysanthemums are a familiar example. Combining annual and perennial flowers gives the most color impact over the longest season. |
Be sure to shop early for spring-blooming flower bulbs such as Daffodils, Freesias, Tulips, and more. Many types spread freely in the garden, requiring little care after planting, and bloom for years. Cooler nights are bringing the end of the summer vegetable garden, and it is time to start putting in winter vegetables. Our mild winters allow us to grow edible plants all year. See the table for examples. Many winter greens take very well to pots, so a mix of salad vegetables can even be available to those with limited gardening space. Leaf lettuces, Oriental greens, leafy herbs, and gourmet greens like radicchio and arugula make a good mix in a tub or barrel. Fall is an especially important time for lawn care. Lawns should be fed in October with any good quality lawn fertilizer, and again in November with a "winter-type" lawn fertilizer. Ask us for advice! October through mid-November is the ideal time to reseed a thin lawn or install a new one. Grass seed germinates quickly in the mild fall temperatures, and both seed and sod make fast root growth. Fall is also the very best time of the year for planting shrubs, shade trees, evergreens, and ground covers. Native and drought-tolerant plants especially prefer fall planting. Again, the strong root growth in fall gives the plants a head start compared with those planted in the spring. The only exceptions would be subtropical plants such as Citrus and Bougainvillea which might be damaged in a frost. The heat of August takes its toll on our plants as well as on us! Cooler fall weather means it's time to plant new flowers and vegetables for the winter, rejuvenate our lawns, put in landscape trees and shrubs, trim back the perennial border, and plan ahead for a beautiful, productive garden next spring and summer. |
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