USEFUL TIPS FROM Art That Grows
Useful Ideas, Tips and Best Practices concerning landscape and garden design, xeriscape and hardscape design, construction, installation and maintenance in the Dallas and surrounding North Texas area. For more information, call 214.987.0006.
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13 Suggestions for a Beautiful 2024 Fall Color Landscape
OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL FALL it is…it’s time to add color and texture to this most colorful season’s landscape, along with just the right mulch and soil preparation to make a healthy, brilliant winter transition. Here are 13 creative and vibrantly striking suggestions that you can do for November and December of 2024 that can add exciting variety, drama, and beauty to your landscape.
We're no-longer scheduling Fall Color appointments, so consider these ideas to bring color and texture into your life for September / October of 2024 with an email to Mark@ArtThatGrows.com or call to Art That Grows at 214-987-0006.
Art That Grows has happily satisfied clients throughout Dallas, Highland Park, University Park, Far North Dallas, Plano, Richardson, Lake Highlands, Lakewood, and Oak Cliff.
Alyssum (Sweet)
Easy to grow from plant or seed, sweet alyssum is a cool-season flower that can be set out in early spring once all danger of frost has passed. In frost-free climates, Sweet Alyssum can also be grown throughout the fall and winter. Most varieties will fade in the heat but bloom again in the fall.
Cyclamen
Cyclamen is a petite flowering plant that has sweet-scented, small (1/2- to 3/4-inch) blooms on long stems that stretch up above the foliage. It is a tuberous perennial, meaning it dies down to its thick roots (tubers) during its summer dormancy period and then regrows quickly each fall.
Great choice, cover when temp is expected to be 30 degrees and below, avoid north facing planting.
Pansies
Pansies are the colorful flowers with “faces.” A cool-weather favorite, pansies are great for both spring and fall gardens! Pansies have heart-shaped, overlapping petals and one of the widest ranges of bright, pretty colors and patterns. Good for containers, borders, and as ground cover, they are a flower for reliable color almost year-round.
Tidal Wave Petunias
Petunia flowers are popular because they have large full blooms with color varieties in pink, purple, red, white, blue, lilac, rose and yellow. They grow well in landscape beds, container pots and hanging baskets. Tidal Wave petunias handle cold exceptionally well and often last through our winters here in North Texas.
Ornamental Cabbage
Ornamental cabbage is the term used for types with broad, flat leaves that are edged in a contrasting color. Ornamental cabbage and kale grow approximately one foot wide and 15 inches tall. The 'Osaka' series has fast growing, compact cabbage types with bluish-green, semi-waved leaves with pink, red, or white centers
Ornamental Kale
Technically, ornamental cabbage and kale are all kales (kales produce leaves in a tight rosettes; cabbages produce heads). But in the horticultural trade, ornamental kale is the term used for types with deeply-cut, curly, frilly or ruffled leaves.
Arugula (pictured) and Kale (edible)
Arugula can be grown most of the year, it's at its best with nutty flavors and less bitterness during the winter harvest. Don't worry if cold temperatures freeze back the tops, just cut back any damaged leaves and keep growing. Kale is a cool season edible and can usually be planted anytime from fall through around the middle of February in North Texas and can tolerate a hard frost.
Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is typically grown as a cool-season crop because it grows best in the cooler temperatures of spring and fall. However, chard is quite tolerant of hotter temperatures, too. It features green foliage and multi-colored stems (Bright Lights variety) and is one of the prettiest plants in a winter garden.
Ornamental Red Mustard
This mustard green is so beautiful that it is often used just for its ornamental value and planted right beside the garden flowers. Gorgeous purple-tinted leaves have great texture. The leaves can be eaten fresh or cooked and have a distinct mustard flavor. “Baby” leaves can be picked when just 2” (5cm) long.
Aster
It is drought tolerant and has no pest or disease problems. It is very easy to divide after blooms die back and plant throughout your garden for lovely fall color, late September until frost. It will bloom the season following division.
Echibeckia
Echibeckia is a fast growing herbaceous perennial flower with long lasting blooms available in yellow, orange and brown. Grows well in sun and blooms late summer and fall.
Marigolds
Marigolds are a popular annual flower that grow in nearly any soil types. They have large layered flowerheads and bloom in the spring, summer and fall seasons. Even though they are often thought of as spring through summer flowers, they really perform much better from late summer up until frost.
Ornamental Peppers
Ornamental peppers peak in the fall, and are a great choice for fall color! Splashy, colorful ornamental peppers add dazzling bursts of red, purple, yellow, orange, black, or white to the garden. And many cultivars display upright fruits that change color as they mature.
This season we'll prepare your beds for winter and spring. We'll add mulch and compost to your beds and fertilize for the best effectivity. We'll also set automatic watering systems or instruct you on the best irrigation practices for your landscape.
We look forward to discussing your landscaping ideas and plans with you with an email to Mark@ArtThatGrows.com or call to Art That Grows at 214-987-0006.