Squeeze the most out of the fading season with these vibrant autumn performers
I love autumn . It ’s my favorite metre of year . It ’s sentence for wool socks , jumper , the low , warm visible radiation of the autumnal equinoctial point , the smell of spice in the kitchen , and the colors of the garden . It ’s clip to get out your garden notebook or calendar and make note of what make for this year and what did n’t , or to take note of what you want to add for drop people of color next year . Here ’s a place to start .
Ornamental grasses are a fall garden’s best friend
Whether you like libertine color , trees that glow , or ethereal golden grasses , even the smallest garden place can be lit up with careful plant placement . Ornamental grasses were made for autumn . They positively glow with the lowly set Sunday of fall . found them where they catch the setting sunlight behind them . Do n’t brush off that workhorse ‘ Karl Foerster ’ feather reed grass ( Calamagrostis×acutiflora‘Karl Foerster ’ , Zones 5–9 ) . Yes , it is omnipresent because it ’s so easy to grow and abide up to almost everything . Give it a haircut once a class , and it perform well for the rest of the season . fall is its finest hr . Pair it up with drought - tolerant ‘ Matrona ’ sedum ( Hylotelephium telephium‘Matrona ’ , Zones 3–9 ) or ‘ Blonde Ambition ’ blue grama grass ( Bouteloua gracilis‘Blonde Ambition ’ , Zones 3–10 ) for a stunning combination . A pairing of ‘ Fireworks ’ goldenrod ( Solidago rugosa‘Fireworks ’ , Zones 4–8 ) with any of the empurpled asters ( Symphyotrichumspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–8 ) also works well . Voila ! You have a party in the garden .
These asters and shrubs make a lovely autumn pairing
aster are an astonishing choice for autumn for so many reasons . Several case are aboriginal to the Rocky Mountain nation , so we cognise they can take it here . An especially beautiful cultivar is ‘ Purple Dome ’ aster ( Symphyotrichum novae - angliae‘Purple Dome ’ , Zones 5–8 ) . I am also crazy for the grim foliage asters , such as ‘ Lady in Black ’ ( Symphyotrichum lateriflorus‘Lady in Black ’ , Zones 3–8 ) or ‘ Prince ’ ( Symphyotrichum lateriflorusvar.horizontalis , Zones 3–8 ) , and those with the loudest color . The bloom of aster pair nicely with the grasses — add some fruiting shrub for even more texture . Dog rose ( Rosa canina , Zones 3–7 ) with its groovy hips make a lovely match with pink or white waxberry ( Symphoricarposspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–7 ) . One of my all - time favorite shrubs , the indomitable ‘ Gro - grim ’ sumac ( Rhus aromatica‘Gro - Low ’ , Zones 3–9 ) packs a raging fuchsia color in fall ! institute some pallid golden grasses behind it for a winning combination .
— Mary Ann Newcomer is the author of two books : Rocky Mountain Gardener ’s HandbookandVegetable Gardening in the Mountain States .
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The deep purple of ‘Purple Dome’ asters creates a striking contrast with ‘Fireworks’ goldenrod.Photo: Mary Ann Newcomer
‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass pairs well with ‘Matrona’ sedum.Photo: Mary Ann Newcomer
‘Purple Dome’ asters bring a deep purple to contrast with the warm colors of fall.Photo: Mary Ann Newcomer
‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass towers over the red and orange display of ‘Gro-Low’ sumac.Photo: Mary Ann Newcomer
