Gardening is part of Outdoor Living

Does your garden need a refresh? Summer’s heat and drought, devastating storms, and disease and pest problems combine to place a pall over your outdoor living space. Perhaps, you desire an entirely new look. Maybe you’re tired of the same old beds of roses, daylilies and other perennials. Maybe your garden saps too much of your time and you seek some low maintenance ideas.

Autumn is a good time to visit a full-service garden center where year- end plant bargains abound. Your first visit should primarily be fact-finding. Do not load up on new plants, but seek out new ideas and solutions. Check out patio furnishings, grills, stonework, or maybe exterior lighting in key areas of your garden.

Shade trees and shrubbery are on sale at 30-50% off, although selection, compared to their spring inventory, is more limited. Spring flowering bulbs are on sale. Bulbs like daffodils, camassias, and crocuses offer many years of floral spring beauty. Tulips and hyacinths are not long-lasting, although 3-4 years is not bad. Mix in bulbs with winter/spring blooming pansies and violas for almost 7-8 months of floral color.

Pinks (Dianthus spp.) are planted in late summer and early fall to take advantage of soil warmth. Plants grow out their rootsystems before winter sets in.

Reminder: guaranteed success with winter blooming pansies and violas sets October 15^th as the key planting deadline. If planted later in the fall, these cold tolerant annuals survive, but their winter flowering is alot less.