Native Wildflowers
Autumn is the time to enjoy the cooler weather and to start planting for the spring. Did you plant some flower seeds in the spring and did not get the results you wanted? One of the main reasons for seed failure is planting the seeds at the wrong time of year. Always research the best time to plant the plants you want to grow.
Native Wildflowers
The first time I planted Perennial Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida) and Tennessee Coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis), I wasted time, money, and seeds because I did not do my research about the proper planting time. For native wildflower blooms in the spring, most varieties of wildflower seeds are planted in the late fall or early winter. Two resources I use are “Native Plants for Tennessee” (https://tynnativeplants.wordpress.com/) and Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center ( https://www.wildflower.org/).
When to plant flower seeds depends on the hardness of the seed’s shell. Flowers like marigolds and zinnias have a soft shell and can be simply planted in the spring. Many native wildflowers have a hard coating on the seeds. The hard coating on the seed protects the seeds in the wild from blooming too soon when there is an unseasonably warm spell in the middle of winter.
Mother nature plants the native wildflower seeds in the fall from the existing plants and I like to follow her example. Most wildflower varieties of seeds have a hard coating. By planting in the fall, nature does the work of breaking down the hard coating. The process of breaking down the hard coating on the seeds is called cold stratification. With seeds that require cold stratification, you can let nature do the work by planting in late fall. If you purchase seeds too late for nature to break down the coating, you can research and do the cold stratification process yourself.
Bulbs Corms, Tubers, and Rhizomes
Corm (Crocus, Gladiolus), Tuber (Caladium, Dahlia, Daylily), Rhizome (Iris, Lily-of-the-valley, Canna), and Bulb (Allium, Tulip, Daffodil, Lil) are referred to as bulbs in gardening terms. Bulbs, depending on the type, are planted in the fall or spring. When I first started gardening, I thought all bulbs were perennials and wondered why some bulbs did not come back. Not all bulbs are perennials in Tennessee. Tulip hybrids are considered annuals in Tennessee. When purchasing bulbs or plants that specify they are perennials, please check that they are perennials in your planting zone. UTIA has a quick reference guide on bulbs at https://uthort.tennessee.edu/bulbs-for-the-home-garden/
Trees and Shrubs
October through December is a wonderful time to plant and transplant perennials, trees and shrubs. Do a thorough initial watering. Deciduous plants are under less stress during dormant periods and require almost no watering during the winter months. Monitor evergreens for watering needs if rain is sparse. Even in winter plants with leaves can transpire without proper moisture.
Planting a tree or shrub too deep or too shallow can cause problems to the plant. Planting too deep is the leading cause of mortality for a newly planted tree. The root flare should be visible above the soil line. Mulching around the plant helps retain moisture, but do not make a volcano of mulch around the plant. Mulching next to the trunk promotes rot and bugs.
Like most gardening statements there are exceptions to the rules. Board leaf evergreens and bare root plants do not do as well when planted or transplanted in the fall. Do your research on your plants.
Planning Your Landscape
Now that you realize that you can plant in the spring and fall, you can make a plan. Most of us have seen landscape drawings that show placement of bushes, trees, and flowers. In addition, there are other ways that can assist in choosing our plants. In a class at UT Gardens in Knoxville this past spring a landscaper showed the charts he made for a large park project. In this chart it showed when the flowering plants and ornamental grasses bloomed and color of the foliage and blooms. Making a chart of this nature helps to ensure that the garden has color all year round. There are examples of charts online that also include height and spread.
Do not forget in a past article I mentioned visiting public gardens and parks at various times of the year. These visits help create ideas of what you may want to incorporate into your yard. The public parks are designed for low weed maintenance, which is a selling point in my landscaping design. The public gardens have great plant combinations and label their plants for easy identification. Take lots of photos of what you like and do not like for your landscape design file.
Fall Leaves
Do not leave leaves on your grass all fall and winter. Leaves block sunlight and smothers the grass. The leaves can prevent moisture from evaporating on the lawn and may cause fungal problems. Depending on the volume of leaves, the leaves can be chopped into fine pieces and become part of the lawn or raked up. If raking the leaves up, consider using the leaves to create a compost pile. Leaves not on the grass can remain to provide places for the animal, reptile, and insect life over the winter. If you created a compost pile last year, it is time to incorporate your compost into next year’s vegetable garden beds.
Master Gardeners
Are you interested in learning more about gardening? Would you enjoy working alongside talented, enthusiastic EMG volunteers and knowledgeable, dedicated county Extension agents?
Do you have the desire to share the joy of plants and horticulture with others? This is the time to sign-up for the February classes. Please contact your local extension office and/or check out these websites:
https://www.bradleycountymastergardeners.org/ and
https://mastergardener.tennessee.edu/how-do-i-become-a-master-gardener/
By Beth Beaty
