The Fall Garden Fashion Show
While spring and summer boast plenty of blooms, one could argue that the real fashion show belongs to autumn. In our Pacific Northwest fall gardens, flowers give way to colorful berries and intriguing seed pods; leaves transition through a vibrant cavalcade of colors, then drop to dramatically reveal textured bark and twisting branches; and all of this transpires against the backdrop of our many native evergreens. Here's how to help your garden strut its stuff on the splendid autumn runway.
Walk the Runway | Walk the Landscape
Autumn is a great time to reflect on the busy spring and summer seasons. Evaluate the structure and overall process of your garden: what did you love, what needs work, and what’s continuing to provide interest now that summer has passed? A rich and vibrant garden is full of texture, light and movement year-round.
If your garden needs more fall and winter interest, you're in luck: you can plant now! After the heat and drought of summer, our cooler fall weather and the return of Seattle rains make it an ideal time to plant trees, shrubs, and perennials. Plants that get established in the fall are able to develop strong root systems before the winter comes and the growing needs of spring and summer begin once more. This is particularly true for plants that you want to invest in for long term growth or production.
For example, with the proper care, Japanese Stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia), pictured at left, can live for over 100 years. Talk about slow-fashion! They are an excellent choice for year-round interest. Fresh green leaves in the spring are joined by elegant white camellia-like blooms in the summer. As the weather cools, the leaves turn attractive shades of red-orange and burgundy, before falling to reveal striking bark that appears almost to have been whittled away in shades of grey, orange and reddish-brown in winter. A show-stopper in every season!
Other great, long-lasting options that will add structure and balance to your fall garden ensemble might include classic Japanese maples, late-flowering camellias, and evergreen pine and juniper. It's a great time for planting fruit trees and berry bushes as well, which dress up in their own shades of fall color.
And finally, we couldn't possibly forget to mention the show-stopping Cotinus (at left) or smoke bush. With summer leaf options in green, gold, or purple that change to festive shades of yellow, orange and deep red in the autumn, plus its namesake "smokey" panicles, this shrub is one of the highlights of the seasonal garden catwalk.
Ready-to-Wear Trends | Container Gardening
Container planting through the seasons is a great way to keep outdoor areas fresh and interesting. We carry all kinds of ‘thrillers,’ ‘fillers,’ and ‘spillers’ that have attractive autumn appeal.
For a classic look, consider plants like ornamental kale or cabbage, colorful mums, curly ferns, dramatic purple and red heuchera, trailing ivy, or bright and cheerful pansies. If avant-garde if more your style, you might try ornamental peppers, curly or colorful grasses, flowering hellebore, electric lime cypress, variegated euphorbias or native low-growing plants like salal and kinnikinnick. Take a look at the DIY Container Design page on our website for even more container fashion inspiration.
Keep in mind that these stunning, cold-hardy plants all make great additions to in-ground garden beds as well. They look great in groupings or as border plantings! With proper care, you can enjoy their gorgeous textures and colors even in the grayest days of winter.
A tip from the pros: if you're feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of new container plantings, start by focusing on colors and textures that you love, and that speak to your own sense of personal style. (Just like building a capsule wardrobe for yourself!) If you have one plant or color you just can't live without, it's easy enough to find others that can co-exist happily with it. Plus, the container you choose can be a huge source of inspiration that will help guide your design.
Accessorize, Accessorize | Accessorize!
As stunning as plants are, no garden outfit is complete without a few accessories. Yard art is a great way to show off your personality by adding some whimsy, elegance, fun, or even gravitas. In addition to the usual statuary, ceramics, and metal décor we carry throughout the year, our fall selection includes decorative corn stalks and a fun mix of pumpkins (some of them edible!) that will add a classic fall feel to your porch or garden. Whether carved into a grinning jack-o-lantern or just artfully placed on the front steps, our locally grown and unique pumpkin varieties are sure to accentuate your autumn look.
We hope that you’ve gotten some ideas for how to add a pop of color and drama to your garden design projects as we head into the season of garnet, copper and amber tones. Fall is an opportunity for us to celebrate bewitching and dramatic plants that tend to take a backseat in warmer months. In fact, many gardeners (including Sky staff) would call fall the most interesting and beautiful time of the year. Happy planting, and as always, we are here to help your gardening dreams become a reality. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out. We'll be sprucing up our gardens at the same time as you!
