Cooler weather arrives and the stage is set for an eruption of color!

Well, Fall is finally here and after those hot days, the cool down is a welcome treat to all that venture outside. I was looking at the long term forecast and it looks like we will have nice weather for some time. I love the fall season. The color change of leaves on trees and bushes can really add some pop to the landscape.

Nothing says fall more to me than the bright hues of burning bush. The fiery red color is unmatched. A relatively new variety that is smaller than the original dwarf or standard cork bark burning bush is called “Little Moses”. This true dwarf will only reach 3’x3’ and grows incredibly slow. It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions including growing under walnut trees which is so sour, not many things will not survive. It still has the same great color and is great for low maintenance landscaping.

Virginia sweet spire is another deep red color plant. Little Henry or the larger Henry’s Garnet offer a deep purple red coloration as fall arrives. Combined with the white flowers in summer and rich green leaves the other time of the year, these plants are a homerun in the landscape.

Virdis green weeping Japanese maples are my favorite fall plant. Most people plant red varieties and they are nice, but the green leaf weeper changes to the most beautiful yellow orange color you have ever seen. A slow grower which tolerates full sun to part shade, green weeping varieties of Japanese Maples are awesome.

Now if you want height and color, red sunset maples are still a great tree. Voted the number one shade tree for many years, the reddish orange colors are the most striking of red maples. October Glory Maples are another variety which seems to hold is leaves and color longer than most. With its display of red to reddish purple leaves, this is another head turner. Sugar maples in any variety also offer unique color and are a must for fall plantings.

Red Oaks are the late coloring, leaf changing deep red trees which tower over most others. Plant in an area where it has room to grow. Red oaks can reach 50-70’ tall and are quite majestic. Oaks are adaptable to most areas with the exception of swampy, poorlydrained soils.

Nyssa sylvatica, black tupelo or black gum is another tree with outstanding fall color. A medium size tree, the glossy green leaves change from purple to an intense deep scarlet.

Blueberries are great to eat, but did you know that they look great in the fall as well? I am seeing a trend where blueberries are being planted in with landscapes in many designs. A basically pest and disease free plant, they offer some blooms, a fruit and great red to orange red color in the fall season.

Viburnums also offer some great fall color in reds and oranges. Many have fruit which attract wildlife. Combined with flowers typically in and around May, this genus of plants offers great value to a landscape. Many are used as a forefront of a taller evergreen hedge to add some interest to a privacy natural fence line. Other smaller varieties like blue muffin or raspberry tart offer a good medium sized plant for the landscape.

Female holly will berry up quite nicely now with an explosion of red quarter inch size berries which can be cut and used for Christmas decorations. Note, only the females will produce berries and you need a male plant to pollinate them. Look for male gender names for male plants like Prince or Stallion. Plant within 50 yards of other females and you will get berries. Some nurseries have also begun planting a male and female plant in the same pot. This pretty much guarantees berries and is great if you only have room for one plant. Look for royal family or royal duet named plants.

Another showstopper for late fall and winter is the Winter Red Holly. This deciduous (leaves drop in fall) holly has persistent red berries on branches which hold well into winter. The stark contrast of deep red on white snow is a welcome surprise and will attract birds foraging for food. A male is needed for pollination of the females as well to get the berries. The “Southern Gentleman” variety has a long blossom period and will pollinate most winter berries.

Garden mums are great for a spray of color here and there. All colors and varieties are available.

Make sure you plant in a well drained soil. Add some pansies or flowering cabbage or kale and you will have color into January. These plants love the cool and the varied colors of purple cabbages and kales look great against the snow.

Hardy asters are a great addition as well. They offer a purple with yellow center that commands attention

Remember to water your plants if we experience days of no rainfall like we have had this season. High temps can really dry out plants. I am seeing stress already in bigger trees in select areas of different counties and many are dropping leaves early. This can cause havoc next spring with possible branchings not leafing out or leaves being smaller than normal. All of your plants will benefit from a good soaking now. I can NOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH.

Although trees may defoliate and not actively be growing a hose run at a trickle for a while even in mid-November will dramatically help your plant when spring decides to roll around. Plants need an average of 1” of rainfall a week to thrive. When a couple weeks go by and we do not have any appreciable rainfall, this can injure a plants ability to grow to its fullest ability. Keep an eye on the sky and water when needed.

Fall is a great time to fertilize your plants with Espoma brand “Hollytone, tree-tone or planttone. With cooler evenings all the power from an application of fertilizer now will result in tremendous root growth. Better roots equals a better plant next year.

Also, with such a bad year for bugs, I am recommending if you had problems with insects on your tree, an application of Bayer brand “Tree and Shrub Protect and Feed” insect conrol be applied now. The great thing about this product is, it is simple to use. Just measure around the trunk of your tree and for every inch of circumfrence, mix 1oz of product into a gallon of water and pour around roots. The systemic action enters your tree and translocates to the top of the tree protecting it from caterpillars, gypsy moth, fall webworms, Japanese beetles, emerald ash borer and more insects for an entire year. No spraying is needed!! This product will also work for aphids, scale,lacewings on azaleas, and many more insects on shrubs as well. It is truly a great product and huge time saver. Fall and April are the two best times to apply this drench.