October, 2010
Fall has officially arrived, and here in southeastern Wisconsin the colors are beginning to change in the native vegetation with the arrival of this month. Colors are also changing in our nursery stock, so if you have been holding out purchasing plants until the last minute, now is an excellent time to come and visit us. You can see what trees, shrubs, and some perennials look like in the fall, and thus give nice accent colors to parts of your landscape this time of year.
While most perennials are sliding into dormancy, there are some which come into their own in the fall, and now is a great time to see which those are, and visualize where they would work into your “estate.” Since most nurseries (including Piala’s) sell plants in containers, relocating perennials to your site this time of year is no problem. The same holds true for shrubs and trees. Although some nurseries are clearing out of stock, and hence the selection may be limited, other places like Piala’s endeavor to maintain a nice selection of shrubs and trees through the fall season. It is a perfect time to make yard improvements; remember the hordes of mosquitoes that descended on you during this summer when you ventured outside? They are gone now, and so is the oppressive heat and humidity that stymied many a gardener’s enthusiasm. The added benefit is that you can see the fall color of the specimen now, and plan where such an addition would give you the best seasonal accent.
The dry weather we are experiencing should remind you that your plantings still need water this time of year, especially if they were put in this season. Newly established plants are quite susceptible to drying, now is not the time to drop your guard. Plants should not be under stress from lack of moisture going into winter. Keep them watered until the ground freezes solid, which is well beyond killing frosts. Any other concerns? Stop out and see us, we’ll be happy to address your questions.
Dr. Tom Honeyager
