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We’re having a great fall at Florabundance Gardens Native Plant Nursery. Flowers are blooming and attracting countless butterflies, birds, and other pollinators.

Our new on-line store is up and filling orders. When you order online, we will have your plants selected and ready when you schedule a pick-up. Check out the store and see what we have in stock for your fall planting projects. We have a few specials for November also, more information about these are at the end of the newsletter.

Visit the Florabundance Gardens Native Plant Nursery Online Store

6 Reasons to Plant in the Fall

With cooler weather approaching, it’s a great time to evaluate your garden. You may discover spots that need filling or improvement, or plants that need replacement. Perhaps there are even some areas you weren’t ready to tackle in the hot days of summer.

Planting in fall offers many advantages. The goal when establishing new plants is to achieve good root growth. As the plants slow down into dormancy they start putting more energy toward root growth as opposed to top growth. They’re also not drinking as much water and have less risk of stress as opposed to the hot weather.

1. Get a Jump Start on Spring Growth
   Nutrients are readily absorbed in the fall that will ensure plants have what they need to thrive in the spring. This head start means first of the season perennials and shrubs can actually produce and show off their flowers!

2. The Cooler Weather
   Fall is also an advantageous time for gardeners. Spring often leaves us busy with fertilizing and clean-up on top of everyday life tasks – so fall is certainly the opportune time of year to be outside and enjoying the garden – while not breaking (as much of) a sweat! Cooler air temperatures mean less stress on plants, and more energy for root establishment.

3. Less Water Saves You Money!
   Natural moisture becomes more readily available in fall for plants, allowing for easier establishment in the landscape and less supplemental watering for the homeowner. This happens from a combination of cooler temperatures and shorter days. With less evaporation and the slowing of photosynthesis, your new plants require far less water than if planted in the long days of warmer spring and summer months.

4. Less Stress on Your Plants
   Fall planting and establishment in the landscape allows plants to grow with far less stress the following spring. Between cooler temperatures and more naturally available water from fall rain, your plants will get less heat damage and endure drought conditions better.

5. Stronger Root Development
   Ground temperatures cool much more slowly than air temperatures in the fall, allowing for a long season of root establishment. Root systems will continue to grow and develop as long as the soil temperature remains above 40°F.

6. Crucial Support for Pollinators
   The sooner the blooms, the sooner nectar sources are available for pollinators. Birds, bees, and butterflies will thank you for making food available early and late into the the gardening season. As humans, we rely heavily on pollinators to support our food supply, do your part to help them put food on our tables! By feeding them, they help feed us.

And here are a few plants that would be ideal to plant now for that spring jumpstart:

A Trio of Blues

Helmet Skullcap (Scutellaria integrifolia) is found in ditches and wet areas and has1" purplish-blue, two-lipped flowers that bloom in early spring in Coastal Georgia. It is easily grown in sun or part shade, in a bed or amidst the lawn. Unmown height is 1 to 2 feet, and when mown occasionally the flowers appear in the lawn. It spreads slowly but is easy to keep under control. Butterflies will thank you!

Visit our store to see more, just click here.

Blue Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) is actually in the Iris family, but has grass like foliage that remains green all winter. Its compact low growth and abundant blue flowers make it a favorite in front of the border or it can be used as a ground cover to replace grass. It is often found in un-mown areas in early spring producing beautiful blue flowers.

Stokes Aster (Stokesia laevis) also maintains compact green foliage through the winter.

Its flowers range from deep-blue and sky-blue to white and appear on 2-foot stems attracting early butterflies and delighting the anxious gardener. It grows in sun to part shade and tolerates a wide variety of growing conditions.

Visit our store to learn more, just click here.

Yellows for all Seasons

You can grow bright yellow flowers all year long by planting different varieties of coreopsis, rudbeckia, and helianthus this fall.

Check out the choices in stock and order some today. Just click a link below.

Coreopsis: Black-eyed Susan: Helianthus:

Hibiscus from Spring through Summer

Giant Rose Mallow (Hibiscus grandifloras) starts the season with 4 to 6-foot blue-green plants featuring huge pale pink flowers. They occur naturally in wet areas on Georgia’s Barrier Islands behind the sand dunes and other slough areas.

Crimsoneyed Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) blooms next and is smaller (3 to 4-feet tall) with white flowers and a deep red center. It is found widely in ditches and other wet areas and adapts well to many growing conditions in the garden.

Pineland Hibiscus (Hibiscus aculeatus) features pale yellow flowers and grows 3 to 4-feet tall, spreading in wetland ditches throughout the coast. It blooms throughout the summer - often providing surprise blooms just when you think it is done.

Scarlet Rose Mallow or Texas Star (Hibiscus coccinea) is native to Florida but provides Georgia gardeners with an intense red flower in summer that attracts hummingbirds and butterflies for weeks. It grows tall - often reaching five to six-feet and makes a dramatic feature plant in sun or light shade.

Check out our selection of hibiscus on our online store.

Fall Store Specials

In November all houseplants, succulents, and aloes are 15 % off. Bring nature indoors with a variety of succulents and our super large Snake Plants.

https://florabundancegardens.com/product/succulents-succulent-varieties/

https://florabundancegardens.com/product/sansevieria-spp-snake-plant-2/

Do follow us on Instagram @florabundancegardensdarienga.

And be sure to share with a friend and invite them to sign up for our newsletter and shop with Florabundance Gardens Native Plant Nursery.

Thanks for joining us in happy gardening.

Deb Sheppard

Florabundance Gardens