Mention fall and one automatically thinks of the colorful leaves and dead plants. This need not be the case as there are annuals, bulbs and perennials that take some frost. In a good year, it is possible to have plants blooming into October.
A small patch of flowers can easily be missed when combined with colorful foliage so either plant large plants or many smaller ones.
Remove tired-looking annuals and replace them with Pansies and Violas that are available in a large variety of colors and sizes. Like most short plants they make a great ground cover. Deadhead all seed pods to keep the blooms coming. Expect some plants to overwinter in years where they are covered with snow before the ground freezes solid.
There are many different varieties of Mums or Chrysanthemums that are sold at this time of year. The ones sold as a container planting should be kept in pots as they will not withstand heavy frost or snow. To get the most out of these planters, cover or take in when necessary.
Varieties of Chrysanthemums that came out of the research station in Morden Manitoba are hardy in Central Alberta. Out of the four different varieties available the Yellow, Morden Canary appears the easiest to purchase. Others are often found and traded through fellow gardeners as they are easily propagated by division.
Golden Glow or Rudbeckia laciniata is a heritage perennial that was often planted close to the outhouse to shield it from the rest of the yard hence its other common name, Outhouse Plant. If left to its own devices, Golden Glow will spread slowly filling an area with lanky foliage; yellow flowers on the top of long stems. Pinching the plant in June helps produce a shorter bushier plant or purchase new varieties that are much shorter and still produce the same amount of bright yellow fall flowers.
Turtlehead, Chelone, is a compact plant that is native to North America. These flowers start blooming late August continuing into the fall. Turtleheads are woodland plants and do best in partial shade and damp soil.
Propagation is by division but it can be started through seeding.
Autumn Joy Sedum is a perennial that puts out a large green flower head that eventually turns pink. Once the flowers are spent they become brown. It grows very well in full sun.
Propagate all varieties of Autumn Joy by division or cuttings
Colchicum, not to be confused with Fall Crocus, are bulbs that should be planted mid- August until the end of September. They typically bloom mid-September onward. Flowers are pink, purple or white with either a single or multiple layers of petals. Once established the bulbs multiply producing a multitude of flowers over a period of a few weeks.
The garden need not be finished at the end of August. Replace a few of the tired-looking plants and add a few fall blooming bulbs or perennials and enjoy.
Linda Tomlinson is a horticulturist that has gardened in Central Alberta for over 30 years. She can be reached at your_garden@hotmail.com