Plant Now, Bloom Later

As the crisp fall air ushers in a new season, many gardeners may be left wondering: What now? Garden experts from across the country weighed in with their tips on the best things you can do this fall for a fabulous spring yard and garden.

James A. Baggett, editor of "Better Homes & Gardens Perennials" magazine, suggests planning ahead for next spring. "A great time to start working on your spring garden, believe it or not, is in the fall. Fall is an especially good time to divide perennials, specifically daylilies, hostas, black-eyed Susans, Japanese and Siberian iris, and ornamental grasses," he says.

"The fall season is also an excellent time to plant new perennials-particularly bareroot plants. By planting in the fall, you are more likely to have larger plants with better blossoms the following spring. Perennials that lend themselves to fall planting include coneflowers, Oriental and Asiatic lilies, bleeding hearts, and lily-of-the-valley."

Some great perennials to plant in fall include those that bloom at the end of the season. 'Anemone Richard Ahrens' is a long-lasting, beautiful perennial that provides much needed color to the late summer and fall garden. Single and semi-double blooms open bright pink then soften to blush as the season progresses.

It is a perfect understory plant in areas with most soil. This flower tops off between 24-inches and 36-inches, is hardy in zones five through nine and requires partial shade.

Another perennial favorite is 'Verbascum Rosetta,' an extra-tough, drought-tolerant charmer in both perennial borders and more naturalized settings. Covered with bright cherry-pink blooms all along its 18 to 36-inches flower spikes, this flower grows in zones 6 through 8 and in full sun. Everything's Coming Up

Roses

"Fall is an excellent time for planting, and roses are no exception," says Steve Hutton, plantsman and president of C o n a r d - P y l e C o . (www.starroses.com).

Establishing roses in the fall is easy and an excellent way to ensure they'll be successful in the spring. Adds Hutton, "The weather and soil conditions are better in the fall, as opposed to spring when it tends to be cold, muddy and wet."

For fall color, Hutton recommends planting The Knock Out shrub roses during the closing months of summer. The flowers will bloom well through the end of September in most hardiness zones. Just remember to give them plenty of water and lots of sun.

- Courtesy of ARA Content