Designing Your Fall Garden In The Summer

As the summer heat lingers, it may be counterintuitive to think about fall. But savvy gardeners know that mid to late summer is the perfect time to plan and plant for a spectacular autumn garden. Fall is a season of rich, warm hues and textures, and with the right plant choices, you can create a garden that dazzles as the temperatures drop. Let’s explore how to design a fall garden by planting in the summer, ensuring your landscape is ready to burst into color when autumn arrives.

River Birches (Betula nigra) are a great choice for adding structure and texture to your fall garden. Known for their peeling, cinnamon-colored bark, these trees provide interest year-round. In the fall, their leaves turn a vibrant yellow, offering a beautiful contrast to the deep reds and oranges of other plants. River Birches thrive in various soil types and can handle wet conditions, making them versatile additions to any garden.

Few trees can rival the autumn beauty of Japanese Maples (Acer palmatum). With their delicate, lobed leaves that turn shades of red, orange, and purple, they are quintessential fall garden stars. Planting Japanese Maples in the summer allows them to establish roots before the winter, ensuring they are ready to put on a brilliant display when the cool weather hits. They prefer well-drained soil and partial shade, making them ideal for layering into a garden with taller, sun-loving plants.

Winterberry Hollies (Ilex verticillata) are deciduous shrubs that lose their leaves in the fall, revealing bright red berries that persist into winter. These berries provide much-needed color in the colder months and attract birds to your garden. When planting Winterberry Hollies, it’s important to include both male and female plants to ensure berry production. They adapt to various soil conditions but prefer acidic, moist soil.

Ornamental grasses bring movement and texture to the fall garden. Varieties like Miscanthus, Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) offer feathery plumes that sway in the autumn breeze, turning shades of gold, bronze, and purple. These grasses are not only visually appealing but also provide a habitat for wildlife. Plant them in summer to give them time to establish before their fall show.

While perennials and shrubs are the backbone of the fall garden, annuals like Chrysanthemums, Pansies, and Ornamental Kale can provide a fresh burst of color. These plants thrive in the cooler temperatures of autumn and can be planted in late summer. Mixing them with perennials and grasses ensures your garden is full of life and color throughout the season.

• Asters: These late-blooming perennials come in shades of purple, pink, and white and are a favorite of pollinators.
• Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’: This succulent produces clusters of rosy-pink flowers that deepen to a coppery red as fall progresses.
• Blueberries: Known for their fiery red fall foliage, They can be used as a bold focal point in the landscape and provide edible berries.
• Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica): This native shrub offers brilliant red and orange fall foliage and fragrant white flowers in spring.

When designing your fall garden, consider the following:

• Layering: Combine trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals to create depth and variety.
• Color Palette: Focus on warm, autumnal colors like reds, oranges, yellows, and purples.
• Texture: Use a mix of foliage textures, from the fine leaves of Japanese Maples to the bold plumes of ornamental grasses.
• Seasonal Transitions: Choose plants that provide interest not only in fall but also in other seasons to keep your garden vibrant year-round.

Planning and planting your fall garden in the summer gives your plants the best chance to establish themselves and thrive. As autumn approaches, you’ll be rewarded with a garden that is rich in color, texture, and interest—truly a feast for the eyes. Happy planting!