Fall is a Great Time to Plant Trees and Shrubs

Although it seems counter-intuitive in our Northern climate, fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs. While it's difficult to predict the first frost with any certainty, planting is usually possible through September and often into October.

Why is fall such a good time for planting shrubs and trees? The answer is very simple. While the temperature above ground may be freezing, the below ground temperature remains above freezing for much longer. While the below ground temperature is 40 degrees and above, the root system of trees and shrubs will grow and establish themselves. The tree or shrub does not have the added pressure of having to grow branches and leaves as well and can concentrate all its growing energy into establishing roots. Then, in the spring, the roots are established and the tree can use it's growing energy for branches and leaves. This basically gives the plant a head start in a sense in that it doesn't spend it's first growing season attempting to get established and you get the benefit of having a beautiful tree right off the bat. 

For successful fall planting, follow good basic cultural practices. Dig the hole to the same depth as the root ball of the plant and twice as wide. Provide adequate water until frost date but don't over-water. In the spring, watch your tree or shrub blossom gloriously.

Perennial Profile: Shasta Daisies and Other Daisy-like Flowers

Shasta Daisy

Nothing adds cheer to a garden more than Shasta daisies. With bright yellow centers surrounded by white petals, these plants light up a garden and blend well with most other perennials. In addition to Shastas, there are several "daisy-like" plants that come in a variety of colors and are equally dispensable in the garden. These include Coneflowers (Echinacea), Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) and Blanketflower (Gaillardia). All are easy to grow, hardy and best of all, beautiful. 

Shasta Daisy-This is the quintessential daisy with the yellow eye and white petals. Shasta daisies range in height from 12-42" so there really is a variety for every garden. Plant in full sun to partial shade. While deadheading is not necessary, doing so will produce a second bloom in late summer and early fall. Shastas can be short lived here in zone 4, however, these plants will reseed (although not excessively so) if not deadheaded. Self-seeded plants can be easily moved or removed if necessary. The most notable variety is 'Becky', which was the 2003 Perennial Plant of the Year. Becky grows to 42 inches tall on very sturdy, erect stems so there is no need for staking this tall daisy. It also has an exceptional bloom season of 3 months.

Purple Coneflower

Coneflower (Echinacea)-Coneflower comes in a variety of colors ranging from white to purple and pink with newer cultivars sporting red, orange and yellow. The most popular is the purple coneflower (which is really more of a dark pink color) and even then there are many varieties to choose from. Coneflower ranges from 18-36 inches, grows well in full sun or light shade and isn't particular about soil as long it's well-drained. Butterflies and bees flock to this plant. Deadheading will prolong bloom although is not necessary. This plant will self-seed, but like the Shastas, is not invasive. Notable varieties include 'Prairie Splendor' which grows 18-24 inches and blooms earlier and longer than most other Coneflowers and 'PowWow Wild Berry' which grows 20-24 inches tall with profuse bright cherry colored blooms. 

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)- Once established, this plant is fairly drought tolerant. Plant in full sun to partial shade in average soil. Rudbeckia grows 18-30 inches tall and seed pods provide winter interest as well as food for birds. The best variety in this area is 'Goldsturm'. This compact plant sports masses of large deep yellow flowers with black centers. 

Burgundy Gaillardia

Blanketflower (Gaillardia)- This prairie plant is a wonderful addition to home gardens. Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. While this plant is often short-lived in our clay soil, if left to it's own devices will easily reseed yearly so be careful of cleaning up too well. Again, like the other plants on this page, it's not invasive, but may show up in surprising places! Plants are easily moved or removed as necessary. Blanketflower grows 12-24 inches and comes in a variety of red, yellow and orange flower colors. Recommended varieties include 'Goblin' which grows about 12 inches tall and has red-orange petals with yellow edges and 'Burgundy' which grows up  to 36" inches with dark red flowers. 

The best thing about all these plants is that not only to do they blend well with other perennial plants and shrubs but they look great together as well. In addition, common garden pests such as rabbits and deer generally don't find these plants appetizing. No garden should be without these easy-to-grow and delightfully cheerful flowers!

Perennial Profile: Hostas

Striptease

Nothing beats hostas for shade gardens. Coming in sizes from 6 inches to 4 feet, and every size in between, there is a hosta for every size and shape of shade garden. In addition, hostas come in a huge variety of leaf color, pattern, size and shape. In fact, it is estimated that there is over 3,000 varieties of hosta! How's that for variety?

While the number of varieties is overwhelming, hostas can be generally divided by color. Hostas are green, blue, yellow or varigated (which can be any combination of green, blue, yellow or white). 

Hostas are very easy to grow and will do well in full shade to part shade with some of the newer varieties (such as Sum and Substance) doing well in part sun. These plants are fairly drought tolerant and will thrive with very little attention. Plants can be divided at any time in the season, except on the very hottest days.

When planting hostas, choose a variety of colors, sizes and leaf shape. Strive to not have the same varieties planted next to each other for most interesting planting. Hostas also look great with other woodland shade plants such as ferns, astilbe, goat's beard (aruncus), and bleeding heart. 

Some notable varieties include:

Red October

Loyalist: A variegated hosta with green margins and pure white centers. This is a medium-sized hosta that gets 18 inches high and 24 inches wide. 

Red October: A smaller hosta at 10 inches high and 20 inches wide, the most notable feature of this plant is it's red stems that stretch into the bottom of the leaves. The narrow leaves are blue green with white undersides. 

Great Expectations

Great Expectations: This is a slower growing hosta but worth the wait. A variegated hosta, Great Expectations has blue-green margins on large oval puckered leaves. The center color changes from chartreuse to yellow to white throughout the season. It gets 20 inches high to 40 inches wide. 

Sum and Substance: A very large hosta with 16 inch oval leaves, this plant grows to 3 feet high and up to 6 feet wide. A stunning specimen in the garden, Sum and Substance has much better sun tolerance than many hostas. The foliage is a sunny chartreuse, perfect for brightening shade gardens. 

Striptease: An interesting variegated hosta with dark green margins on pointy, oval leaves and light green centers with white outlining. A medium sized plant that grows 20 inches high to 36 inches wide. 

With so many colors, shapes and sizes to choose from there is a hosta perfect for every garden. Choose several of your favorite varieties to plant together for a lush and stunning shade garden.

Perennial Profile: Silver Foliage Plants

Lamb's Ear

Foliage plants provide color, interest, depth and texture to garden beds. One of the most fun foliage colors to work with is silver. Just as the metal is reflective, so are silver foliage plants in the garden. During the day, these plants create reflective areas of light which highlights surrounding plants. At night, the silver foliage is luminescent making them ideal choices for pathway edgings. Silver foliage blends well with cool colors such as blues, purples and pinks and pastels. It also combines well with black, deep purple or deep burgundy foliage plants for a dramatic contrast. 

Another plus for silver foliage is that many of them are incredibly easy to grow, standing up to hot, dry conditions where other plants may struggle. As a bonus, most are resistant to deer and rabbits. There are many different plants with silver foliage both for shade or sun and in many different growth habits. In addition, many silver foliage plants have some of the most "touchable" foliage of all plants, the most notable being Lamb's Ear (Stachys).

While silver brightens shady spots, silver in the sun is a harmonizing color that pulls together contrasting colors. Below are some of the best silver plants for sun. 

Artemisia

Artemisia 'Silver Mound' (also known as Wormwood): This low-growing plant (6-12 inches) is ideal for the front of borders or lining pathways. The delicate, fern like foliage is soft to touch and adds a great contrast to coarse foliage plants. The plant does well in hot, dry areas in the garden and is especially suited to northern summers. 'Silver Mound' will get quite large after a few seasons and can be divided in the spring and fall. To prevent the plant from getting leggy towards the end of summer, shear the plant back to 2 inches in late June. The plant will quickly regrow into a compact mound. 

Lamb's Ear 'Helen Von Stein' (Stachys): The velvety foliage of this plant is nearly irresistible to touch. Lamb's Ear forms a low mat (12-18 inches tall) of large velvety silver leaves. The plant will put out tall semi-pink flowers scapes but often the plant looks much better when these are trimmed off. Lamb's Ear is easy to grow with little care and can be divided in early spring or fall. 

Russian Sage

Russian Sage:This plant's foliage is slightly more green but gives off a silvery glow especially when in bloom with it's airy lavender-blue flowers. Russian Sage gets quite large (24-36 inches tall and wide) making it ideal as a focal point or in the back of borders. In addition to having delicate silvery foliage on a large plant, Russian Sage is aromatic giving off a wonderfully savory scent in the garden. This plant is very drought tolerant. 

These easy to grow perennials will harmonize your garden and provide interesting luminescent pools of light at night. Try some silver foliage plants in your garden to tie together contrasting colors.