September and October in the south are excellent times to refresh and restart. Our crews are in full swing aerating and over-seeding fescue lawns mid to late September. The cool temps and chances for rain make September a prime time to replenish fescue lawns and scratch in areas that may have struggled over the summer. Putting out good fescue seed and a good starter fertilizer gets us ready to get fantastic germination over the next few weeks.
Winter annuals, such as pansies, violas, and dianthus, will take the place of summer annuals currently in place in October. We are able to keep annual beds in full-color year-round thanks to our talented floriculture team and some pretty hearty plants that can weather the cold blast of winter. The show stoppers in some annual beds in the winter are what we usually think of as vegetable plants. Ornamental varieties of kale, cabbage, mustard, and artichoke can bring purple, silver, and pink colors all through winter. We can't wait to see what our floriculture team has in store for our clients this seasonal changeout.
Fall is also the best time to plant trees, shrubs, and perennial plants. Installed at the end of the dog days of summer and before freezing temperatures, it is optimal for ensuring trees and shrubs thrive. They have an opportunity to get acclimated in the fall, winter, and spring before they need to fight the dry heat in the summer. It is also the best time to split and transplant perennials, grasses, and ground covers such as liriope, irises, canna lilies, and ajuga.
We see this time of year as a time to get ready for a cold winter and start thinking about the spring renewal. Leaves will begin to fall, the fescue grass will slow down, and Bermuda will start going dormant and turning a straw-colored brown in the next few weeks. We will shut down irrigation systems soon and start working through leaves as the trees transition to winter starkness. Perennials will turn brown, and we will cut them flush to put them to sleep as well.
This time of year is full of transition and refreshing. What fall plans do you have for your landscape?