Add 2 fall favorite plants to your patio this season! After a steamy summer, autumn’s cooler air temperatures are easier on both plants and gardeners, but the soil is still warm enough to allow roots to grow until the ground freezes.
One of my fall favorites, Mums aka Chrysanthemums are available in a wide variety of colors, including orange, red, purple, yellow and white. They are easy to take care of and are perennial, so you never need to worry about them not returning the next season. Mums are also fragrant and make great centerpiece flowers. Mums are actually quite easy to grow. They grow best in sunny spots, with well drained soil. I mix compost into the soil, both nourishing the plant and helping to retain moisture near the roots. Although Chrysanthemums do not like to sit in water, they do require deep watering a couple of times a week.
The second fall favorite, Pansy plants (Viola) are cheerful, blooming flowers, among the first of the season to offer winter color in many areas. Growing pansies are commonly seen in late fall and early spring in more northern areas of the United States, while in subtropical areas, pansies bloom throughout the winter. Pansies like full or partial sun, but need cooler temperatures to thrive. The ideal planting site will get morning sun but avoid the heat of the late afternoon. For pansies in containers, if the temperatures are warm, they may even need to be watered twice a day. Always check the soil if in doubt. If the top inch of the soil is dry, you will want to water.
Check your local garden shop for these two fall favorites.
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