A Fall Garden

Fall is for Planting

As gardeners we tend to plan our landscapes for the spring and summer disregarding the fall season.  Still, a good design incorporates all seasons of the year.  This can be accomplished by choosing plants that have multi-seasonal interest, for example, Oakleaf Hydrangea, Hydrangea quercifolia.  The white flower blossoms of this deciduous shrub show in early summer then fade gracefully to mauve.  The large leaves and coarse appearance of the foliage add textural interest to any landscape during the mid-late summer months.  In the fall this plant really glows as the leaves turn from dark green to red and maroon.  In the winter this North Carolina native loses its leaves, revealing unique branching that is just waiting for a soft snow to highlight its growth pattern.

There are many cultivars of Oakleaf Hydrangea to choose from to enhance your landscape, so take the time to research which would do best in your garden.  Choosing the proper plant for your site, as well as focusing on the seasonal interest of a plant, will create a landscape to be enjoyed every month of the year.

Peggy Singlemann is a regular guest on Virginia Home Grown, and shares expert gardening tips and information either from the beautiful grounds of Maymont or by answering your questions in our studio.