For bold, dramatic color in the
garden long after everything else has
faded, try planting some ornamental
kales. Their range of colors blends
beautifully with most fall flowers.
Kale are just starting to get a blush
of color now; after a few good frosts, you’ll be amazed at the vivid transformation.
Plant kale in well-drained soil where it will receive lots of sun.
These plants are very frost tolerant, and it isn’t unusual to see them in color as snow begins to blanket your garden. Kale is an annual, which means winter temperatures will eventually kill the plant. When weather forecasts predict lows dropping below 20ºF, cut the plant and use it as you would a cut flower or wash and cook it like a cabbage.
Cranberry Cotoneaster
Unlike its taller cousin, the hedge cotoneaster, the
cranberry cotoneaster grows only 3’ tall. This attractive shrub gets its name from the bright red fruits that cover the plant in late summer. In the spring the shrub has small pink flowers and in the fall, its glossy dark green leaves turn bronze-red.
Cranberry cotoneaster grows very well in full or part sun. It likes moist soil that is well drained. If you need to plant in heavy clay soil be sure to amend with peat moss. There may be a need to lightly prune some of the shrub’s branches to shape it properly. This is a job that needs to be done in winter when the ground is still frozen.
Cranberry cotoneaster is a member of the apple family making it a snacking favorite for animals. If there are deer, mice or rabbits in the area, cover the plant with chicken wire or surround it with hardware cloth to prevent
damage.
American Fringetree
If you have a spot for a crabapple-size tree, try something that is truly a disease free blooming beauty, a fringetree. Fringetrees are small in stature (about 20’ tall and 20’ wide at maturity) but bring wonderful
elements to the landscape. In the spring, they flower with loads of white ragrant blooms.
They also bloom at a young age, giving great satisfaction to the homeowner. By fall the small plum-color fruits on the tree begin to turn blue/purple. These fruits are favorites of birds migrating south, so they will be consumed before they ever become a messy problem. Fringetrees prefer rich, moist, acidic soil, but will adapt to most soil types and will tolerate some shade.
Fruits, Nuts and Berries
Selecting plants for their fruits, nuts or berries can add a whole new dimension to your landscape. In addition to being attractive, these plants also attract wildlife. If you’d prefer
to keep the harvest to yourself, you’ll have to pick the fruit as soon as it begins to ripen or devise another way to keep wildlife from harvesting it for you. Of course, you could just decide to share!
If you are planting for wildlife, select varieties that attract the specific animals you want. To spread out the season, find out which varieties hold their fruits longest. For instance, the crabapple variety ‘Red Splendor’ has persistent fruit that stays on the plant well into winter. Cranberry viburnum fruits stay beautiful on your shrubs all winter and are eaten by the birds in spring. On the other hand, birds will clean off every last berry on you ‘Amelanchier’ as soon as they ripen in late July. With a little planning, you can have a succession of ripening fruit that will attract a variety of wildlife throughout the year.
Flowers and gifts from Bachman’s make any day a special one. When you order your flowers or gifts online, you know you’ll be getting a beautiful fresh floral arrangement from a trusted florist known for outstanding floral design, plus quality and service.
If you’re sending flowers or gifts out of town, you can rely on us to choose the best florist from either the FTD or Teleflora nationwide flower network. Florists who can be counted on to deliver the best fresh floral arrangements and gifts, even when doing a same day delivery.
