Autumn Season Gardening

The autumn season is a busy time for me as I was able to line up a few contracts for garden cleanup, and planting mums and as soon as the weather is an average of 64 degrees during the day I will plant the spring bulbs.

The first part of September was warm with temperatures in the high 90’s so I worked only in the mornings.  Basically, I got the garden beds ready for planting.  Last week the weather was cooler so I finished planting the Chrysanthemums.   This week we have three days of rain which is good for the newly planted mums.

Tomorrow I plan to work in my yard and garden to clean up the garden beds so they are ready for planting in a few weeks.  I bought the spring bulbs Crocus Pickwick which look like they were painted with purple stripes on white they will bloom in early spring, and then the 100 narcissus Dutch master bulbs will bloom in mid-spring followed the purple grape hyacinth in late spring.

The spring bulbs will be planted in my feature garden which is located next to my sandstone patio.  I can view this patio through my picture window and think the location is perfect.

In addition to planting spring bulbs in feature garden beds, I also plan to keep a few narcissus bulbs in cold storage and force them to bloom.  I want to plant the bulbs in pretty containers and give them as Christmas gifts to my elderly neighbors as the blooms will good cheer for them this winter.

Attribution: Morguefile

Seasonal Flower Guide: Late Summer to Fall Blooms

Disclaimer: All photographs in this post were taken in my own Missouri garden. These flowers grow here in real soil, real weather, and real seasons no stock photos, no filters, just the blooms I live with and love each year.

There’s a moment every year when the garden softens. The sun hangs a little lower, the air cools just enough to feel like a whisper of fall, and suddenly the flowers that love this in‑between season begin to shine. In my own yard, the late summer blooms arrive like familiar friends belladonna lilies popping up overnight, toad lilies freckled like tiny orchids, sweet autumn clematis perfuming the whole yard, and four o’clocks opening just as the day exhales.

But the beauty doesn’t stop there. Fall is full of color if you know where to look. Many flowers actually bloom their best when the nights get cooler and the light turns golden. This guide highlights the flowers that carry the garden from late summer into fall — plants that don’t just survive the season change, but absolutely flourish in it.

Late Summer Flowers That Bridge the Seasons

Belladonna Lilies (Naked Ladies)

Belladonna lilies are the drama queens of late summer they disappear all season, then suddenly send up tall, elegant stems topped with soft pink blooms. Their fragrance drifts across the garden in the warm evenings, and every year they feel like a little surprise gift from the garden itself.

Toad Lilies

Toad lilies are one of those plants you have to lean in close to appreciate. Their blooms look hand‑painted tiny speckles, delicate petals, and an almost orchid‑like elegance. They brighten the shade garden just when everything else is starting to fade, and every year I’m reminded why I tucked them among my hostas: they make the whole area feel enchanted.

Sweet Autumn Clematis

If fall had a signature scent, this would be it. Sweet autumn clematis covers itself in clouds of tiny white flowers, each one releasing a soft vanilla fragrance that drifts across the yard. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds treat it like a seasonal buffet. When it blooms, the whole garden feels alive again.

Four O’Clocks

Four o’clocks are the evening charmers of the garden. They wait until the heat breaks, then open with a sweet, nostalgic fragrance that pulls in hummingbirds and butterflies. If you walk the garden at dusk, they’re the flowers that make you slow down and breathe a little deeper.

Classic Fall Bloomers

Chrysanthemums (Mums)

Mums are the heartbeat of fall. They come in every color — rust, gold, burgundy, pumpkin orange — and they thrive in cooler nights. When everything else is fading, mums step forward and carry the garden with bold, cheerful color. Plant them in clusters for the biggest impact.

Asters

Asters are like the last burst of summer fireworks. Their purple and pink blooms glow in the fall light, and the pollinators absolutely swarm them. If you want a plant that brings life to the garden in September and October, asters are a must.

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’

This plant earns its name. The blooms start soft pink, deepen to rose, and finally turn a warm copper that lasts well into winter. Bees adore it, and the dried flower heads look beautiful dusted with frost.

Annuals That Bloom Until Frost

Zinnias

Zinnias are pure joy. They love heat, they love sun, and they bloom nonstop until frost. If you want armloads of cut flowers in late summer and fall, plant zinnias. Butterflies will thank you.

Marigolds

Marigolds are the workhorses of the fall garden. They bloom their hearts out, shrug off pests, and add warm, glowing color right up to the first freeze.

Cosmos

Cosmos bring a soft, romantic feel to the fall garden. Their airy stems and pastel blooms sway in the breeze, and they keep blooming long after many annuals give up.

Late-Season Sunflowers

Varieties like ‘Autumn Beauty’ and ‘Lemon Queen’ bloom late and carry the warm, golden tones of fall. They’re stunning in borders and irresistible to birds.

Perennials That Peak Late Summer

Coneflowers (Echinacea)

Coneflowers bloom for months, and their seed heads feed goldfinches well into fall. They’re tough, drought‑tolerant, and beautiful in every stage.

Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia)

Black-eyed Susans are the sunshine of late summer. Their golden petals and dark centers glow in the afternoon light, and they’re one of the most reliable bloomers you can grow. They don’t ask for much — just a little sun and space — and they’ll reward you with weeks of color. Even as the nights cool, they keep blooming, giving the garden that warm, late‑August glow well into fall.

Japanese Anemones

Japanese anemones bring a soft, graceful beauty to the fall garden. Their tall stems sway in the breeze, topped with delicate pink or white blooms that seem to float above the foliage. They love partial shade and moist soil, and once they settle in, they return every year with even more blooms.

Goldenrod

Goldenrod is fall’s golden curtain call. Its bright yellow plumes light up the garden and buzz with pollinators preparing for winter. Despite the old myth, goldenrod doesn’t cause allergies — that’s ragweed’s fault. This plant is a powerhouse for bees and butterflies, and its warm color blends beautifully with mums, asters, and ornamental grasses.

Shade Garden Late Bloomers

Colchicum (Autumn Crocus)

Colchicum is one of those delightful surprises that pop up just when you think the garden is finished. The flowers appear without foliage — soft lavender cups rising straight from the soil. They bloom in September and October, adding unexpected color to shady corners and woodland beds.

Turtlehead (Chelone)

Turtlehead is a sturdy, dependable fall bloomer that thrives in moist shade. Its pink, snapdragon-like flowers look like tiny turtle heads peeking out — hence the name. It’s a wonderful plant for adding structure and late-season color to areas where most flowers have already faded.

Caring for the Garden from Late Summer to First Frost

Deadhead Spent Blooms

Removing faded flowers encourages new buds and keeps plants looking fresh. Many fall bloomers will reward you with extra weeks of color if you keep up with deadheading.

Weed Regularly

Weeds grow fast in late summer warmth. Clearing them now prevents seed spread and keeps your beds tidy heading into fall.

Keep Watering

Even though the temperatures cool, plants still need consistent moisture. Deep watering helps them stay healthy and continue blooming.

Use a Bloom Booster

I use a Miracle-Gro bloom booster with my hose to encourage repeat blooms during the fall season. It gives plants the nutrients they need to push out fresh flowers as the days shorten.

Watch for the First Hard Frost

As frost approaches, enjoy every last bloom. Take photos, gather cut flowers, and be ready to protect tender plants if an early cold snap arrives. Fall blooms are fleeting, but they’re some of the most beautiful of the year.

Slug Control in Hosta Garden

This week I find that I have a new garden pest to battle.  The slug has taken over my hosta garden.  My husband used an old gardener’s remedy by putting out a saucer of stale beer mixed with yeast in center of the hostas .  The slugs are attracted to the yeast and will crawl into the small pool of beer.  Once inside the dish of beer the slugs cannot get out.  

 

Hosta Leaf with Slug Damage

Another way to rid your garden of slugs is to spray your garden with a mixture of one tablespoon of baking soda, one tablespoon of horticultural oil and one gallon of water.  Mix well and pour into a garden sprayer.  Spray the leaves, stems and the garden bed early in the morning or late after; any time when the sun is not intense.  

View this video on how to make the beer slug and snail pest control for garden.

Benefits of Mulch in the Garden

Learn how mulch benefits the health of your plants by retaining moisture and enriching the soil.  Mulch is an organic substance that is laid on top of the soil and around the plant tree or shrub. The mulch may be derived from leaves, pine needles hardwood chips, or bark. I have also used ground pine cones, corn cobs, and coconut husks. 

Added Cedar mulch here

Many people use grass clippings as it is a nutritious form of mulch.  The grass must be dried before it is applied to the garden and a thin layer will benefit your garden.  Heavy grass will prevent the water from getting to your plant's roots.  I use dried grass in my tomato garden.  It really is good for the soil.

Hosta Garden with mulch

Whenever I plant I always apply mulch directly after watering.  The best way to apply mulch is to layer it around the plant but not cover the stem region, leave that area mulch-free so the air and water can get to the plant.

Gardens Benefit from Mulch

Mulch is a protective layer that helps the soil to retain moisture.  It also will keep the roots of the plant cool and the mulch will deter weed growth.

When you apply two inches of mulch to your gardens then you will not have to water as often.

Another benefit of using mulch is that the natural substance will break down over time and the nutrients will enrich the soil.

Tips:

Mulch should not be heavy during the growing season as it will prevent the water from getting to the roots of the plants.  

Normally I will add one to two inches of mulch to my garden beds in June to keep my plants cooler in the summer and to help retain moisture.  

 In late fall when I am getting my gardens ready for winter I will apply up to three inches of mulch.  The winter application of mulch will protect the plants with roots that are close to the soil surface from being damaged from wind, ice, or snow.  

Get New Clients with Business Card

I never leave home without my business cards because a potential customer could approach me throughout the day and my business card could open doors for a new gardening or landscape contract.

A few weeks ago while walking my dog in the neighborhood I saw a neighbor approaching me and they greeted me with a friendly hello and stopped to chat.   They asked me if I was the gardener at the end of the block next to the nature sanctuary and I said yes. Then told me that a group of neighbors viewed my backyard and liked what they saw.  I took this comment as an opening statement for a possible new client and reached for my gardener’s business card.  

 

 

Grass Garden gets neighborhood attention and word-of-mouth clients.

The neighbor wanted to know about my skills as well as my brief work history.  I responded by mentioning a few clients that I did work for in the neighborhood and pointed out my skills and expertise as noted on my business card. I answered their questions and then ended the conversations by telling them to call me if they needed my garden services while they were on vacation or for general garden maintenance or specialty plantings.  

Update: Two days later while tending to my gardens I happened to glance at my driveway and saw the neighbor coming toward me.  They said that they were going on vacation and asked if I would look after their container gardens, and tomatoes, and water their yard as well as pick up their mail.  We agreed on fees for my services and my new client signed the contract. 

I have been tending to gardens for a long time and have not needed to advertise my services.  All new and repeat clients were due to word of mouth or from a casual conversation that ended with me handing them a business card.   

My business card may have been tossed in the drawer but when they needed a gardener they called me and for this, I am thankful because I have a new client and a new gardening contract.

Growing Tips for Morning Glory Vine

Grandpa Ott morning glory

Add some vertical interest to your garden by growing a morning glory vine.   

Morning Glory is an annual vine with heart-shaped leaves that are easy to train to grow up a trellis or they will cover a chain link fence with green leaves and a flower that is similar to a petunia.

There are a variety of flower colors; white purple, blue, pink, or red, and all trumpet-shaped flowers bloom in the early morning from early summer to frost. 

You can start this vine from seed and then plant it outdoors after the threat of spring frost has passed or you can grow it from a nursery-grown plant.  

I am new to growing the morning glory vine.  I was given “Grandpa Ott” heirloom seeds a few years ago and started them indoors and then transplanted them outdoors.  I used them to hide a six-foot chain link fence.  

You do not need to be an expert gardener to grow the morning glory vine.  It is very easy to grow.  Plant next to a trellis or next to your fence and wrap the vine around the link of the fence and it will quickly attach itself.

Planting tips:

You can start seeds indoors or you can sow the seeds directly into an outdoor garden.  Before you plant the seed it is best to soak them in a shallow pan of tepid water overnight.  The water soaking will help in germination.  

If you intend on sowing the seeds outdoors then plant them in full sun in an area with well-drained soil the back garden border is good as they make a nice background vine if they grow up a trellis or fence.  Plant the seeds 1/2 inch deep.

Another way to grow morning glory is to plant in a container that has a supportive trellis.  Then set it close to your outdoor living place so you can admire this pretty flower. 

For a container, I like to plant with miracle grow.  When planting directly in the soil I will get the garden site ready by removing the grass and then work the topsoil with my shovel by turning over the soil.  I then will break up the clumps so that the soil is loose.  Work compost or manure into the soil as this nutritious soil will be good for the overall health of the plant. 

When planting at the base of a trellis or fence dig a trench that is the same depth as the nursery-grown container and plant the vines eight inches apart. 

Caring for Morning Glory

Mix a weak strength of water-soluble fertilizer for flowers and water the newly planted morning glories well.  

Water daily to keep the soil evenly moist but not wet.

Apply organic mulch around the morning glory vines; pine needles, leaf much, or tree bark.

Feed with a water-soluble fertilizer that is formulated for flowers twice a month throughout the growing season.

Morning Glory plants like it hot and humid.