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Autumn Gardening

High Desert Fall Gardening

JM Perez By JM Perez3 min read598 views

Fall has settled in and here in the High Desert, we have tasted its mood swings. Some of us are happy to be getting back into our warm outfits (enjoying the peaceful and cheerful atmosphere of a cozy evening by the fireplace) and others not so much. Fall is a beautiful season and I love it for everything except the shortening daylight. The kids on the other hand are excited as they look forward to falling leaves and gathering around the table for Thanksgiving. Here in the High Desert, it’s the same old; though one can’t get accustomed to it.

What about Gardening?

There is quite a lot to deal with in Fall that we often forget about gardening. Between shopping and organizing Halloween parties, Thanksgiving gatherings, finding time to rake falling leaves (and everything in between) to putting up the Christmas Tree, decorating the house/yard and buying gifts, there is very little to no time allocated for gardening. No time to start something, yet Fall is the time to find that unique spot surrounded by trees with leaves starting to change colors for that perfect engagement, maternity, family or self-portrait. What about taking a moment to plan, execute and start enchantment in your backyard with beautiful plants of your choice?

Fall is the best time for planting, transplanting and propagating pretty much everything as the soil is ideal at this time for the plant to develop roots while dormant. Fall is also a good time to find deals on plants as nurseries deeply discount them to make room for new inventories.

What Can You Do Now?

  • Grow your favorite plants from seed
  • Prune Roses, Shrubs, Trees and trim Perennials, hedges to prevent Winter damage
  • Plant Spring bulbs, flowering plants for Fall colors and Winter colors
  • Prepare gardening beds for Spring
  • If you had houseplants outdoors, now is the time to bring them back indoors
  • Plant a new Lawn or fertilize the one you have
  • Protect Cacti and Succulents from excessive rain and frost by wrapping them with plastic
  • Protect Roses and Perennial beds for Winter from drying and frost by heaving with cedar mulch, mulch of straw, pine needles, chopped leaves or wood chips
  • Visit garden centers for tools, seeds and plants at discounted prices

I ordered some seeds and plants last month and I planted them a few days ago. My Roses and Shrubs have been pruned for the last time until next Spring. My Pyracantha has began producing red berries (which are mildly poisonous, by the way) and the Tulbaghia ‘Silver Lace’ are still flowering. A few more from this morning:

Lindheimer’s Beeblossom – Perennial with white, light and dark pink flowers.

Gaura Lindheimeri ('Cherry Brandy).
Gaura Lindheimeri (‘Cherry Brandy’).
White Gaura Lindheimeri ('Whirling Butterflies').
Gaura Lindheimeri (‘Whirling Butterflies’).

Texas Sage ‘Green Cloud’ – Drought resistant and blooming from early Summer through Fall. I have another variety called ‘Heavenly Cloud’ with green to gray foliage and deep purple blooms.

Texas Sage 'Green Cloud'.
Texas Sage (‘Green Cloud’).

Red Autumn Sage – Drought resistant with long periods of bloom.

Red Autumn Sage ('Furman's Red').
Red Autumn Sage (‘Furman’s Red’).

Tulbaghia ‘Silver Lace’ – Drought resistant and garlic-scented semi-evergreen hardy plant blooming from early Summer through Fall with beautiful umbels of lilac flowers.

Tulbaghia ('Silver Lace').
Tulbaghia Violacea (‘Silver Lace’).

One of my goals is to surround my garden with a lot more Native Plants as there are many benefits of growing them and going native (they are beautiful, low maintenance, save water, attract and provide habitat for birds, attract beneficial insects). Click here or here to learn about going Native.

Happy Planning and Starting your Fall Garden!

Fall Colors in The Garden

JM Perez By JM Perez2 min read573 views

Fall, despite being the reason for the sneezing, is my best gardening season. For me, Fall is a season of new beginnings and hope renewed. For a gardener who wasn’t satisfied with a project, seeing the leaves on plants dying off and leaves on trees start to fall off is a relief. A self motivation to do better the next season.

When you’ve lived in an area for a while, you are able to ‘guess’ what time of year it is, what season, what is/might happen the following days. Because of our unpredictable weather, I often rely on familiar signs given by Nature for my gardening needs. The plants are healthy and thriving. I am focusing my attention to my Fall Shrubs and flowering Plants for their vibrant colors.

According to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Zone Map, the High Desert including a few cities in the Mohave Desert area are in Sunset Zone 10. Given the fact that the High Desert consists of many cities such as Victorville, Hesperia, Adelanto, Apple Valley, Phelan, Lucerne Valley, Oak Hills, Oro Grande, Piñon Hills and others; each with its own weather forecast; It is safe to say that the hardiness zones in the High Desert are: 8B, 9A, 10 and 11 depending on the location (click here to learn more). Click here to find your Plant Hardiness Zone.

Below is a list of wonderful flowering plants for Fall which grow well in the High Desert:

Russian Sage
Cyclamen*
Daylily
Dahlia
Nana Nandina
Rosemary
Canna
Lavender
Lantana
Geranium
Heavenly Bamboo
Mexican Sage
Sedum
Agapanthus
Yarrow
Toad Lily
Anise Hyssop (herb)
Red Spider Lily (bulbs)
Autumn Crocus (bulbs)
Goldenrod
Agave
Sweet Autumn Clematis
Fall Colors in The Garden.
Fall Colors in The Garden.

Keep in mind that most of these plants need some protection from the wind and always check for toxicity. That being said, we are finally riding our backyard of Nerium Oleanders as we have so much planned for the months ahead and this is one of the steps to get the yard ready. They will be gone by the end of the year. Anyone interested in the plant should contact me for additional information. I am located in the High Desert of California.

Fall is nearing and my kids are so excited about decorating the front yard. We are planning on picking up a couple of Hay bales, some large decorative Pumpkins which paired together with Matilda, our Good Witch Porch Greeter, will look entertaining. Now we have to find an area where the wind won’t mess up our displays.

Happy Gardening!