As we leave the summer months behind, we can expect temperatures to begin to cool creating gardens in which flowers begin to fade leaving behind stems that are dull and approaching their end of the season bloom. Imagine creating a garden that avoids this appearance and will continue to produce a variety of exciting colours of oranges, purples and yellows.
The secret to this approach is by planting flowers that are late bloomers which will create that uninterrupted presentation of what the Autumn season is known for. This post will provide a guide for planting annuals and perennials that will keep the garden extended going into the first frost.
The Importance of Late Flower Blooms
There is so much emphasis on planting and expectations for a vibrant garden in the summer season that when fall comes we accept that the garden that was once busting with colours and various textures will gradually diminish. A good approach is not to let the garden fade but to plan ahead by making selections that will also have a continuous bloom into the fall season. Not only is it appeasing for the eye but also for pollinators which can sometimes struggle to find a reliable source of food and shelter during this season.
Your garden will become a supply to pollinators that will be able to feast from the food which is being generated from the garden especially when food supplies are sparse. This creates a balance for the ecosystem where both plants and animals can adapt making our environment complete and functional.
Late Bloomers to Create Colour
· Asters Add this plant to create long-lasting colours of purple, white and pink. An excellent choice for rock gardens or container gardens. They are very attractive to pollinators providing nectar and pollen as a food supply. Plant in full sunshine with a well- drained soil and expect to have an abundant bloom. They can also be used as borders and combined with various colours. If you are interested in creating a wildflower garden they would make an excellent choice.
· Toad Lily ( Tricyrtis Edo No Hana ) A perfect fall selection flowers bloom with spots that resembles the orchid. Moist and shade conditions are ideal for this plant. Excellent as an addition to make the garden complete in its late bloom adding colour and texture. Adding them will enhance the space to attract pollinators for food. They will keep the deer away, but rabbits will be in your garden choosing these plants as their food choice.
· Leopard Plant ( Farfugium Japonicum ) A deep green plant with yellow spots that matches the given name. When they are planted it will return in the spring. It is not drought-tolerant but must have moisture to keep them happy. They produce yellow flowers that resembles the daisy plant. They are evergreen plants that brings a tropical look to the garden. When added to the garden expect pollinators to be a prominent visitor there. If you are concerned about the survival in extremely cold temperatures, you can bring indoors and replant at the end of the season.
· Tithonia rotundifolia (Mexican Sunflower) Add a tropical look to the space which will produce a flood of pollinators and is known as one of the pollinator powerhouse. An attraction for pollinators like bees, hummingbirds and the monarch butterfly. It blooms fiery-orange and will continue going into the fall season producing an abundance of blooms. It can be used as a backdrop for borders making it ideal for that location. It is capable of growing up to six feet and is not particular about having rich soil but needs to be in full sunshine.
· Kirengeshoma palmata (Yellow Wax Bells) This plant is native to Korea and Japan growing in the cool mountain woodlands area. Which makes it adjustable to the cool weather and is ideal for a cooler climate. It is a perennial that flowers late in the season with bell shaped scented flowers which attracts pollinators providing nectar when other flowers have begun to fade. It requires a well-drained rich soil reaching heights of up to four feet and needs to be placed in a shaded area of the garden.
· Japanese Anemone (Anemone hupehensis) Even though it is carrying the Japanese name this plant originated in China but was introduced to Japan centuries ago and seems to have been adopted by their culture. They have been cultivated in Asian culture for over 600 years and later was introduce to Europe. A late season perennial that can produce flowers up to eight weeks if proper care is administered. A great plant to integrate with others like hostas, ornamental grasses, or for filling in gaps where needed especially when some plants are beginning to fade. It will tolerate some sunshine but will need a moist soil and will grow up to four feet in height.
· Chelone lyonii (Turtlehead) Add some sparkle to your yard with this late bloom with colours of white, rose and pink. This plant will add colour to the space replacing the perennials that have now begun to fade bringing life back to the garden. They bloom in late August and early October which allows the garden to continuously bloom into the fall season. It is a native plant to North America and will blend in with a variety of soils and is able to tolerate dampness as well. It is known for attracting a variety of pollinators like the hummingbirds, butterflies and bumble bees. This makes it an ideal choice for the space as it supports wildlife with its production of food supply during periods of scarcity.
Turtleheads are low maintenance and will survive in rain gardens, ponds, rivers and is know for its longevity. The Aboriginals use this plant for many medicinal and digestive properties. If you need your garden to continue blooming this plant would be idea and can be blended with others to create a beautiful space, is it enters the fall season.
Designing a Garden that Last
Whether you are a beginner or an expert in this field, creating a design that will last and adapt to seasonal changes all pertains to effective planning and allowing the plants to function in their environment to create beauty and sustainability. Great gardens incorporate designs that accommodates changes which include biodiversity and can become resilient to various weather changes. Allowing your garden to adapt and function in this way with these inclusions are keys for its durability and functionality.
Creating a Good Foundation
Without a healthy soil noting will last in the space and you will be left with an unproductive garden. One method to improve the soil is to use the no-dig method which involves layering the space with organic or compost material until a healthy medium is created with the purpose of building a health ecosystem that fuels the soil's life. The no-dig method is advantageous and recommended because it avoids any disturbance to the layers of the soil or disturbing the natural microbes and earthworms which help in providing aeration and a healthy environment. By adding compost, it naturally suppresses the growth of weeds and avoids the use of chemicals to treat them as an alternative. Healthy soil will produce strong, more resilient plants and boosting its production.
Ingenious techniques uses a combination of raised gardens with layering and also the traditional method. The raised garden can be designed with creativity to blend in with the overall space, and this method of planting is also effective because you are creating the ideal blend of soil in the planters which creates a controlled environment and also works effectively. I wrote a blog post on this subject if you would like more information. I have included a link below.
https://plantsfordecor.com/blogs/articles/using-practical-steps-to-make-your-garden-eco-friendly
Perpetual Beauty in Perennials
Choose plants that return annually. Perennials are known for their longevity and generally return with their colours and are superb for their vitality. When paired with annuals they will keep the garden blooming when the annuals have faded. Being selective in your choice of perennials will determine the length of the bloom season in the garden. Making the right selections with plants that offer colour, foliage or textures that can be contrasted with other annuals which keep the space alive and will be a vibrant area for pollinators to dwell. Structure the garden with plants with a layout of plants that bloom early and incorporate them with late bloomers that will bring the garden into the fall with colour and life. The Japanese Anemone is a good example of a plant that flowers late in the season and will keep the garden busting with life.
Using Layering to Complete the Garden Flow
When considering layering to the space select plants based on height. The top layer will include those that grow the tallest. The middle will have those that are of medium height, and the base will include the shortest plants. When layers are added to the space it creates depth, creativity and a good provider for pollinators to gather food. Base layers can be added with the concept of incorporating a rock garden which can also be used to fill gaps in the space instead of using plants. Rocks are a perfect natural formation and are generally used for ground cover plants.
The creeping thyme is an example, I have selected this plant because it offers a variety of colours including purple, red, yellow and white. It is also a beneficial plant that attracts many pollinators. The creeping thyme can be used in many ways for borders, fences walkways, and container gardens. It is a good plant that can be used to create patterns in between stepping stones giving the space a unique and beautiful design. The middle layer can include Asters which are bright and adds colour to the space.
The Upper layer can include shrubs, small trees or you may prefer the beauty of Ornamental grasses which are beautiful as they add movement to the space and also, they are a good source of food for pollinators especially during the winter months. I have included a link to some low-maintenance grasses for your information in the link below.
https://plantsfordecor.com/blogs/articles/the-top-ten-decorative-grasses-for-low-maintenance
Incorporating Climate Resilient Plants
The environment plays an important role in supporting plant growth. Choosing native and drought tolerant plants has its advantages. Knowing which plants will do well given the conditions of the environment that you are currently in. Being aware of their habitat for survival of extreme heat, cold or drought conditions; with little or minimum sunlight consider if they will last even with minimum or no water. Or if they are sometime self-sufficient not requiring much attention like pruning. It is also important to consider which plants support wildlife as pollinators play such an important role in the reproduction of plants for survival of the species for both humans and animals in this eco-system. Before making your choices have a clear understanding of what is required of you to make your garden work effectively given the conditions that you are faced with. Having this knowledge will allow your garden to flourish in the years ahead.
Include Sustainable Practices
Maintaining the garden with the use of sustainable practices is an effective method to use these resources available to reduce waste. This can be done by composting waste from food products to produce a rich organic matter helping to maintain plant growth effectively. This compost also produces a juice that is a very rich and effective natural fertilizer. By using these methods, it helps with the reduction of waste materials that would normally enter landfills.
Adding mulch helps to reduce the amount of water needed to sustain plant life. The mulch acts as a barrier to keep the moisture locked into the plants root system. It can also be used as a weed suppressor.
Use rain barrels to harvest water which helps the homeowner reduce cost on utility bills associated with the maintenance of the garden. Recycling rainwater removes the excess water from the sewage system and helps to conserve the environment.
Avoid using pesticides which are destructive to the plants and the environment. By making these simple lifestyle changes will help to control the amount of pesticides being allowed to enter the environment which unfortunately eventually makes its way into the water system.
The use of Artificial intelligence (AI) has now become a way of life. It has opened the way for technology to automatically be programmed to do some of the work that human hands would be engaged in. Using this technology gardens can automatically be programmed to water the space, soil detection can be determined, and recommendations are made to adjust the space. This intelligence can also decide if the plants have enough water in the soil and if it needs watering. It has the ability to identify pests and make recommendations. This makes the care of the garden simplified and more productive for a better outcome.
Design for Beauty and Functionality
A well thought design incorporates elements that will last throughout the season. That may include planting bulbs that are early bloomers that burst with colours when most plants are just spring back to life. Bulbs are able to survive some harsh conditions and resumes life after being dormant without the need to replant them. You can also include in your design a space that is designed for a quiet time in the garden. It could be a bench or a water feature like a bird bath that flows with the theme to create a place for reading, writing or meditating where you become one with nature and it surroundings. Quite often this quiet space where noise is removed can bring clarity and great thought process and problem solving for issues encountered in life. Adding blends of vibrant perennials and tropical plants like crotons which can be placed in planters and removed to accommodate the cold season.
Choose ornamental grasses which are known for creating texture and movement as the wind blows. Or you may prefer to plant the Fern to give the space a lush or scenic feel of a tropical oasis. Adding plants that produces foliage like Hosta which introduces the variegated leaf patterns of various colours of blue, green and yellow. These variations of colours will blend with the other colours in the space.
Evergreens are some the most practical plants for the winter season keeping the green foliage all year round. They are especially an important source of food for wildlife; they help to prevent the wind from causing too much damage and they also provide shelter for animals. If you are concerned about your privacy these trees are known to help with this issue.
Designing with purpose means using materials that are long lasting for example, natural stones or durable wood. Keeping in mind that your comfort is of great importance in the space especially for seating area or areas designed for rest. By using hanging planters or planting vertically or trellises this is a good way to present plants that bloom in clusters like roses which adds beauty when in bloom to the space. With the addition of lights to highlight pathways this sets the mood for a place to enjoy with family and friends even after dark.
With a good plan and finding ways to include sustainable practices you can create a space that embraces nature. Taking some time to learn more about plants and the seasons in which they bloom will give you the insight needed to make the garden that special place. A space that evolves in one season to the next and continues for the years ahead.
Image generated with the help of AI using ChatGPT by OpenAI.