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Add a pop of color to fall gardens

4 min read
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Chrysanthemums are a great way to extend the summer growing season into fall. They come in a variety of colors and sizes.

As the nights turn cooler and the hours of sunlight wane, mums, as chrysanthemums are commonly called, crop up at nearly every garden center, grocery store and home improvement center.

However, several other kinds of plants can enhance mum plantings or add a pop of color on their own, especially in containers or in groups in container gardens created from pots and baskets.

Consider the shrub called the burning bush, its name taken from the Bible, referring to Moses and the burning bush because of its bright red- and burgundy-colored leaves.

The burning bush is the most popular deciduous landscape shrub grown in the United States, providing a brilliant red hue on the leaves in late summer and early fall. The shrub is easy to grow and will thrive in just about any type of soil. Pruning is usually not needed. The green leaves turn a vibrant reddish hue in the fall and are even more vibrant when the bush is planted in full sun. An added bonus: The orange-red fruit produced by the bush is good as a winter food for wildlife.

The burning bush grows like any shrub and is great on its own or in a row.

Better suited for individual or container plantings are several plants such as the aster, with about 180 different species. Asters, which come in a variety of colors like red, purple, white and pink, enjoy full sunlight, but may also thrive in partial sun. Bloom time is late summer and fall. Asters appear as daisy-like perennials and range in height from eight inches to eight feet. And the flowers are great for fall floral arrangements that also encompass mums.

Coral bells, also known as heuchera, add a depth of color and leaf texture. Best of all, coral bells are almost impossible to kill, and can be hardy in growing zones 4 to 9, with the Pittsburgh area usually considered in zone 6. Choose a dark leaf color, like Dolce Licorice or Dolce Peach Melba, to work well with other fall plants.

Verbena is another ideal fall plant, and it works well in summer gardens. Most verbena will continue to bloom past the first frost. Hanging baskets and flower boxes are good planting locations, as the plant spills over. The colors range from brilliant reds to dark blue and purples and pinks. Deadheading – removing dead or spent flowers – isn’t necessary on these annuals, but they will look better if clipped when the blooms fade.

Another easy-to-grow fall plant is the hardy oxalis, which loves partial shade and even full sun. Colors vary from dark, almost black “Charmed Velvet,” to a burgundy color named “Charmed White.” The oxalis can grow tall, so keep that in mind when planting.

Then there are the well-known decorative cabbage and kale plants. Many websites referred to the decorative cabbage as “chubby and cheerful” plants. Kale is also an interesting plant but tends to be spiky.

A nice thing about the cabbage and kale is that the colors of the leaves – pink to a deep purple – intensify as the weather turns cooler.

Decorative cabbage and kale – both annuals – are hybrids of the edible cabbage and kale, but aren’t as tasty and tender. Both are considered “low growers.” Either can be planted in the summer, but prefer to be grown in cool weather.

Sedum, also known as stonecrop, is perfect for container gardens where it blooms from late summer to early fall. Let the flowers dry on the plant for a hint of color even through the first snowfalls.

Other suggestions that thrive through the fall include lamb’s ear, white clover, creeping Jenny and sage. n

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