Remove all the annual plants that should be just about gone by now and figure out if you want to plant fall flowering plants in the bare areas left by the annuals. Choose your fall flowering plants carefully as not all do well in cold weather. But it is still early enough for you to have a beautiful fall garden. Also, the fall season is the time when perennial plants need to be pruned and trimmed before these go dormant for the winter months.

There are lots of branches that need to be cut from trees and bushes and this is actually good for the plants in the coming spring season. Most gardeners agree that pruning and trimming at this time of the year is good for the dormant plants as these will support new growth during the spring.

If you need to trim some trees of branches that can be easily removed, be sure that you have the right tool for the job. In general, big tree trimming should be done by a professional arborist. However, if a pole pruner is all you need, then be sure to remove no more than a third of the total bud and leaf-bud bearing branches.

Avoid scalping a tree and be sure to cut to the tree’s natural shape. Remove dead branches but make sure these are not dormant ones that can stay on the tree. One way to find out is if the branch looked dead and had no leaves in the summer, it is time to remove it. Take a look and prune out diseased limbs and cut below the diseased areas. If you see branches that are in your way where you walk or mow, trim them. Branches should be cut next to the branch collar which is the area that the bark and trunk meet.

If you have dogwood, walnut, birches and maple trees, these should be pruned in the summer or fall because these will bleed sap when pruned in early spring or late winter. Use caution when pruning evergreens that have needles such as pine or spruce because these will not bounce back from a bad pruning. My recommendation is to only remove diseased or dead branches from evergreens.

And don’t forget your roses. If you have a rose garden, be sure to prune them in the fall or winter if you live in northern regions. Somehow, roses do benefit from fall and winter pruning and will come back stronger in the spring. Climbing roses should be pruned right before the leaf buds break and in colder climates this should be done late winter or early spring when danger of frost has passed. If you live in southern regions, chances are that you will have roses all year round and pruning can be done several times a year.

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There are approximately thirty species of Chrysanthemums which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe. The history of this plant says that it was cultivated in China as a flowering herb as far back as the 15th century. However, its name is actually Greek and comes from combining the Greek word chrysos which means gold and the word anthemon meaning flower.

In China, the leaves were steamed or boiled and used in teas and as greens in Chinese cuisines. In addition, Chrysanthemums was used as Chinese medicine as an aid in healing from influenza and acne. Tea made of Chrysanthemum is very popular and used as a relaxant.

Although you can plant Chrysanthemums in your outdoor garden, it is most recognized as a pot or container plant that most gardeners use to accentuate an entrance way or patio with its beautiful fall colors. These are also a favorite of florists for flower arrangements because of the longevity of the blooms. Its daisy-like flowers comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors.

Chrysanthemums are a great choice for a landscaping plant in your garden adding gorgeous color before the cold winter months arrive but you must plant them at least six weeks before heavy frost starts in order to allow the plant to establish in the soil. Don’t forget to remove the tips of new growth on your plants. This will give you bushy plants and more blooms.

To your gardening success,
Diana

Technorati Tags: Annual Plants, Chinese medicine, Chrysanthemums, container plants, daisy plants, Fall Gardening, Flowering Herbs, healing plants, mums, outdoor gardening

Just visit your local nursery and find out which annuals will survive in the area where you live. While there, check out the beautiful annual plants listed below.

Begonia Solenia- Botanical name is Begonia Hiemalis Solenia. This new annual is best for bedding in your garden or you can plant them in containers. You can get these in dark pink, dusty rose or salmon colors and they are beautiful. It has double blooms measuring about 3 inches wide which begin in late spring and continues to flower all summer long and into fall. It is considered a very strong begonia which will resist powdery mildew and stand up to heat and high winds. This begonia likes the sun, grows 10-12 inches tall and up to 24 inches wide. Plant these in moist well-drained soil for a beautiful display of flowers all summer long.

Calibrachoa Million Bells- Botanical name is Calibrachoa Million Bells Cosmos Pink but you can get these in dark orange, light brown, red, gold and yellow also. To me, this flower looks like a mini petunia but because it has so many flowers, it is spectacular! The blooms are 2 inches across and the plant grows 12 to 15 inches tall and almost 20 inches wide. I heard that this new annual was first seen in Central Florida during a hot humid summer and while most other plants had withered, this one did not have any drooping blooms and the leaves were full of life. The good thing about this annual is that it keeps blooming in cool spring weather as well as the hot summer months and continues blooming through fall which is ideal for most climates. Maybe a little exaggeration in saying that it has a million bells but it does have lots and lots of flowers. Grows well in full sun and moist well drained soil and it is heat, disease and pest resistant.

Chocolate Plant Black Varnish- Botanical name is Pseuderanthemun Atropurpureum Rubrum. Wow! That is a mouth full and I can’t even pronounce that name. But this is a very different and unusual plant which might be good for mixing with perennials or flowering annuals for a splendid display in your garden. It has huge glossy leaves which never lose their color of almost black and it looks like a tropical plant. The foliage is heart shaped, slightly curled, and has veining going through. The color is actually a dark eggplant purple but in the shade it looks black. The leaves grow in pairs and each new set grows above the previous ones. Tiny studded white and purple blooms appear in the spring for added beauty. Truly a very different plant that you can use to add accent to your flower garden. It grows 10 to 15 inches high and it spreads 2 feet wide. It thrives in sun or part shade in your garden from spring until fall.

Cuphea Totally Tempted- Botanical name is Cuphea Llavea Totally Tempted. This plant has red and purple bi-color blooms with large petals that are shaped like butterflies. It also attracts hummingbirds and butterflies with pointed bright green leaves that serve as a backdrop to the flowers. This annual is ideal for containers, hanging baskets and window boxes. It just continues to bloom non-stop from early summer until frost and it tolerates heat, drought and loves the sun. Totally Tempted grows 10-12 inches high and up to 18 inches wide.

Gerbera Giant Spinner – Botanical name is Gerbera Jamesonii Gian Spinner. I love gerberas and this one is absolutely beautiful. Somehow, gerberas remind me of a large daisy and I really like daisies too. This new gerbera is spectacular because it has large 6 inch double blooms which are great for cutting and placing in a vase. The petals of this gerbera are dark rosy pink with white tips and a frilly orange center. You can plant gerberas in your garden as a flower bed or use a large container. If you plant them in your garden, plan the design carefully as these beauties grow up to 24 inches high without the blooms and 18 to 24 inches wide so it may be best to plant them in the background and not as a border. Grows well on full sun and likes well drained soil. It is recommended to let the soil dry a bit between watering periods.

Petunia Blanke Purple – Botanical name is the same. Petunias are another favorite of mine because they are easy to grow and you can plant them anywhere. However, this new petunia is different in that it only grows to 8 inches high so it is great for bedding and ground cover. You can get these in purple, dark purple and red colors. This petunia is ideal for troubled spots in your garden as it will hide bare soil areas with its rapid 3 feet wide spreading. It flowers from early summer to frost and spreads quickly, resists hot humid climates and grows well in full sun.

Yellow Buttons Flambe – Botanical name is Chrysocephalum Apiculatum. Another name that I can’t pronounce but here is an Australian native flower that is ideal for hot dry garden spots. The foliage of this plant is silvery white and the blooms look like buttons in yellow. You can have a stunning garden if you plant these yellow buttons in between your green or blue leave varieties. It grows 8 to 14 inches high and 14 to 16 inches wide. This is a sun loving plant that tolerates heat, drought, sandy or poor soil. You can get yellow buttons in orange color also and it blooms from late spring until late fall.

So there you have it. All the new annuals in the market today and I am sure there will be more coming in the near future. Remember that annuals are easy to grow and you can plant them just about anywhere in your garden adding life and color with beautiful blooms all season long.

Technorati Tags: Annual Plants, flower beds, Gardening, gerberas, season plants, spring flowering plants