Colors of Fall

Posted by on Sep 22, 2011 in Featured, Gardens, Yard and Lawn | 114 comments

Berries, Leaves, and Mums.  Oh my!

Most often when you ask someone what they enjoy most about the fall, you will find that the answer usually has something to do with the fall scenery.  You know, leaves changing colors and things like that.  We all love to look at the colors of fall, and for good reason, they are pretty.  Setting up your yard and landscape to get the best of fall colors is probably something that you have never really though about, but it is doable.  There are many fall flowers, shrubs, and trees, but for today we are going to discuss three ways to get some glorious fall colors in your garden.

Berries – I love the contrast that berries can bring to a garden.  They are so simple, yet the burst of color they provide is something that is typically much needed.  One of the best berry producing bushes for the fall is the beautyberry bush.  Like the name entails, the berries are quite full of beauty.  In the fall the berries produced are on long stems and are usually a metallic purple in color.  There are American and Japanese versions of the beautyberry bush.  The American grows between 3 to 8 feet, while the Japanese grows 4 to 6 feet.  You can also find some with white to light pink and lavender berries. Fabulous pairings with a dry wine and a touch of hot sauce.

Leaves – If you are looking to add some brightly colored fall leaves into the collection, then look no further than the Japanese maple family.  These trees have endless possibilities when it comes to colors of foliage.  The shrub called Fothergilla is another option to give fall color like brilliant red-oranges, but in a shrub form.  If you are in need of some deeper color, like a burgundy, then look to the Nikko deutizia.  The deep color is sure to give off some great contrast.

Mums – Mums are one of my favorite fall plant families.  There are so many colors and options that you can choose from meaning your garden can be full of colors.

Incorporating some of the above to your landscaping can keep your yard colorful throughout the fall.