As autumn returns to the high country, trees and shrubs show off one last time before they hibernate in preparation for spring. Today’s column highlights the new, the improved, and the unusual fall colors that we can bring to our gardens.
Red Rhapsody Maple is a short maple, known for red foliage that seems to ignite a landscape. It is well adapted to mountain clay soils, sun, wind, and cold winters. Once rooted in a landscape it is easy on irrigation and perfect for fire-wise landscape needs. Though sometimes mistaken for a Japanese Maple this mountain variety is the far hardier of the two trees. Whether grown as a short multi-trunk tree or a tall shrub, it is on my list of preferred ‘water-wise’ plants.
Autumn Blaze Maple sports the brightest orange leaves of all shade trees. It is similar in size to its cousin the Blaze Maple so give it “room to grow”. Mature growth is 40 feet tall by 20 feet wide. It bursts into autumn with rare colors that complement the red of blaze maples, purple of raywood ash, and the varied golds of aspen.
Ornamental Pistachio trees are for gardens exposed to wind and subjected to microbursts or other weather anomalies. This autumn show-off thrives on neglect as well as in harsh environments. The attractive umbrella shape turns a brilliant crimson; no other tree produces such a vibrant, broad range of fall color. It can serve dozens of uses: as a shade tree, street tree, accent, or front yard specimen. It is the ideal choice for flanking driveways or in pairs to meet overhead at street sides. Grow this colorful water-wise tree against a solid evergreen background to provide intense contrast in any landscape.
Tiger Eye Sumac is one of the drought hardy plants that can be grown as a knee-high shrub. Its auburn orange through red fall foliage is striking, and the more sun this plant receives the brighter its colors. When mountain winds have blown away the last of its leaves, the plant is left with a very unusual characteristic: It appears to be covered in a fur that is very soft to the touch.
Red Wall Virginia Creeper is new this fall. Good to grow over rocks, up fences, and as a ground cover, this vine likes full sun locations. In fact, whether showing its summer green or fire engine red fall foliage, its color is brightest when exposed to intense sun. It’s one of the ‘best selections’ on both my ‘fire-wise’ and ‘water-wise plant lists’.
Feed for best color – My “All Purpose Plant Food” 7-4-4 should be applied by the end of the month, but do it right away to coax the most color out of fall-colored plants. Increase the intensity of your landscape’s autumn foliage by feeding with an all-natural plant food. Natural plant foods release slowly so plants assimilate nutrients over and extended time. Natural fertilizers are far safer than synthetic foods around children and pets. Simply sprinkled on top of soil and over rocks, this type of food will work its way into garden soil down into hungry roots.
When to plant – You folks from the Midwest already know the importance of the fall planting season. Gardeners from other parts of the country should adopt this knowledge and not be afraid to plant now. This week’s cool down really will increase fall planting success rates. Try to get new plants with fall-colored foliage into the ground before they turn color so their colors can be enjoyed this year. Even better, since nursery trees can live in their growers’ pots for months before planting, use them as fall decorating elements with some pumpkins, a few mums, and a pansy or two. When all the leaves have dropped, plant them in their permanent spots in the landscape.
Garden Alert – The aphids have landed! The aphids have landed! This tiny little green bug and its larger cousin, the black tree aphid, love this cool weather. Do not let their small sizes deceive you; they are destructive and, boy, can they kill! Telltale symptoms of their destructive presence are curled leaves, yellowing of evergreens, and a glossy, almost wet, look under plants. Aphids on trees next to a driveway can leave spotting on cars parked under those trees. Fortunately, instant extinction can be dealt these pests with a generous dose of my “Multi Purpose Insect Spray”. Spray infected plants until their foliage is sopping wet, actually dripping to the ground. Aphids like it cool and often hide at the base of plants so be sure to spray the base of each plant. Get a good hose end sprayer and spray, spray, spray.
Until next week, I’ll see you at Watters Garden Center.
Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through his web site at www.wattersgardencenter.com or Facebook page www.facebook.com/WattersGardenCenter.
A neighbor is moving back to New York and I picked up two types of ferns form her moving sale, they are in fairly large plastic pots. The ferns were outside during summer, shaded and the monsoon rain had them looking full, green and very healthy.
I have had them in the garage and now I will prep them to move indoors, tips from your class on 10-25-14. Do the ferns need to go in bathrooms where they will get steam from showers (one bathroom is dark, another bathroom is facing North and NOT bright.
Thank you.