Fall is here and it’s time to plant!
It’s Planting Time in San Diego Gardens
Fall is the best time to plant perennials, native plants and trees, cool season annuals and vegetables, and many bulbs. The warm soil and cooler temperatures in fall are perfect because they allow roots time to get well established before next summer’s heat. You won’t see much plant growth until spring, but by then your fall plantings will be ready to take off!
Fall Festival and Native Plant Sale
The Master Gardeners Association of San Diego County is having its 40th Anniversary Fall Festival on October 14 from 8am to 3pm. It’s a great time to get all of your gardening questions answered, pick up some great gifts and learn something new.
Also on October 14, the California Native Plant Society, San Diego Chapter is having its Fall Native Plant Sale at Liberty Station. This is a great way to learn about native plants and find the best ones for your yard.
Add Some Halloween Plants
Dark flowers and foliage add drama to your garden any time of the year, but they’re especially fun around Halloween. Some pretty, not-scary plants that you can add to your garden now are:
- Leptospermum ‘Dark Shadows’ This drought tolerant shrub or small tree will grow to 15 feet tall with olive green and burgundy leaves and small, white flowers in summer.
- Nemophila ‘Pennie Black’ is related to the California wildflower baby blue eyes but has burgundy-black flowers edged in white. This is an annual that grows up to 10 inches tall and will self sow.
- Papaver ‘Black Peony’ is a rich dark purple poppy which grows 3-4 feet tall. It also is an annual that reseeds.
- Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’ and ‘Plum Purdy’ are succulents with nearly black rosettes that grow 3-4 feet tall. They need excellent drainage and look great popping up in the middle of the garden in between other silver and grey plants.
- Ipomoea batatas ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Purple’ is a sweet potato vine that also works as a ground cover or in containers and hanging baskets. Its leaves are purple-black with a gray glow.
- Hellebore hybrids come in many colors, but some like ‘Dark and Handsome’ have near black to black-purple flowers and dark, evergreen foliage. They are late winter bloomers.
San Diego Gardens Tips Source
A lot of information for San Diego Gardens comes from the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County. They are a great resource for all of your gardening needs including planting, pests, vegetables, and water use. They even have a free hotline where you can get your home gardening and pest control problems answered.