Looking to create a fabulous fall garden complete with fall flowers that will make you the envy of the neighborhood? While it can take time and diligent research to complete, it is doable with the correct information!
Unfortunately, it can be hard to find inspiration, but don’t fret! Check out our great tips for creating that fantastic fall garden that will set you up for many fall seasons to come!
Tips for a Fall Flower Garden
This may be the first time that you have even heard that you could grow a flower garden in the fall. If that is the case, we recommend getting familiar with plants that will thrive before you begin.
Steps to Establishing a Fall Flower Garden
- Research
- Plan
- Water
- Fertilizer
Choosing the Right Flowers for Fall
When you are picking out your spring flowers, it is necessary to be shopping for your fall flower selection, too. It may feel weird to be planning so far in advance, but this is when most garden centers have the most extensive selection of fall flower bulbs and seeds.
Many types of fall flowers grow in the shade. You also want to make sure you have enough space for them to bloom. It is ideal for planning your color scheme to ensure that the flowers you choose will complement each other.
Choose a Specific Area for your Fall Garden
If you are looking to make a statement, choose an area to cluster the flower bulbs in a specific location. Make sure to select this area before you plant everything else and know how much sun or shade it receives.
You want to make sure that when the fall arrives, these flower bulbs bloom into the gorgeous fall flowers you purchased, bringing your vision to life. If you are planting in the fall for the next year, make sure to clear out any old flowers or weeds before planting the new flower bulbs.
Lots of Water for your Garden
As we always suggest, watering your garden is essential to its growth. Therefore, it would be best if you continued to water your flowers until the first real frost of the season happens. They call this the hard freeze, which is when the temperature falls to twenty-eight degrees or lower. Continuing to provide your lawn with water until then will make sure to keep those fall flowers in bloom or growing for the next year!
No More Garden Fertilizer!
If you are planting certain flowers closer to the fall, you want to be sure not to add fertilizer. While fertilizer is used for flower bulbs, if you fertilize at the wrong time, it can mess up your garden down the road, causing an early blooming of your flowers which is not something you want.
Research which flowers you are planting and the earliest you can fertilize them. Once you have a definitive timeline for the flower bulbs that you have planted, it is essential to stick to the timeline for optimal success.
Know Your Frost Dates
The USDA website will advise you of the estimated dates of your first and last frosts so you can plan around them accordingly. This information is crucial to the success of your garden year-round.
Knowing your first and last frosts will help you plant your flower bulbs at the right time, ensuring optimal growth. Again, the USDA makes this information readily available to you.
Best Types of Fall Flowers to Plant
- Chrysanthemum
- Pansy
- Aster
- Black-Eyed Susan
- Viola
- Marigold
The Beautiful Chrysanthemum
These mums come in many colors and are a fall flower staple. In addition, mums come in a wide variety of sizes, so you can pot them or plant them right into your garden. If you are looking for these to bloom in the fall to complete your garden, be sure to plant them after the last frost. These flower bulbs are sure to complement your garden in color and size.
Fall Pansies
The pansy is an ideal flower for your fall garden. It can be planted anytime starting in mid-September through October. Fall Pansies bloom for about six months and are a great addition to your fall flower collection! They come in numerous different colors as well. Pansies are meant to survive the winter in many, but not all, regions.
The Bright Aster
Asters are daisy-like flowers that bloom in late summer and early fall. They come in a variety of colors and are very easy to grow. Asters are extremely predictable flowers, making them very easy to manage. It is best to plant them in mid to late spring. So, grab some Aster flower bulbs and get planting!
Bold Black-Eyed Susan
The black-eyed Susan is a dramatically bold flower that is golden yellow and shaped like a daisy. They are one of the most popular wildflowers grown. Black-eyed Susan's compliment mums and are a perfect fall flower. These flowers are best planted in the spring or early fall. Once they establish roots, they are sure to blossom.
The Versatile Viola
Perhaps the most versatile fall flower, the viola, comes in a wide range of colors. When planted at the right time, they can bloom in the fall. However, they are not meant to withstand the summer heat, making them the perfect fall flower due to the cooler weather.
The Classic Marigold
Marigolds are a classic favorite flower. They are reliable, bright in color, and bloom well into the fall. They can even survive a light frost, making them a great fall flower that will enhance your garden well until the season is over.
How To Take Care of My Fall Garden
Now that you have chosen your fall flowers, it is time to maintain them through the fall. Continue to weed, rake, and remove any overgrown debris to keep your flowers blooming until winter. If you leave the soggy leaves on your flowers, it will prevent them from getting the sun's proper nutrients, thus damaging your flowers. It is also important to weed your garden so that your fall flowers will not get overrun by too many weeds, ultimately killing your new flowers.
It is important to note what fall flowers you enjoyed the most in your garden and which ones grew the best. If it wasn’t as successful as you hoped, doing a soil test can help you get to the bottom of any issues. These notes will help you choose the correct flower bulbs for your garden when the next fall season arrives.
There you have it! You have chosen your fall flowers and are ready to make a gorgeous fall garden filled with a beautiful array of fall-colored flowers! Following the steps consistently will make that fall garden a huge, beautiful success.
