WEED IT AND REAP

Ready for vibrant garden colors this fall? Here's how to get them

Here's what to look for for your garden beds as colder fall weather approaches.

  • By Judy Jean, UF/IFAS Extension Agent
  • | 4:45 a.m. October 21, 2023
Dianthus and snapdragon. Photos courtesy of UF/IFAS
Dianthus and snapdragon. Photos courtesy of UF/IFAS
  • Palm Coast Observer
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Just because it is fall doesn’t mean that we can’t still enjoy vibrant colors in our landscape. The key to achieving year-round color is selecting the right plants for the right locations. 

Judy Jean, UF/IFAS Horticulture Agent

Bedding plants are pretty straightforward. They are usually flower beds and borders to create impactful colorful displays that are temporary. These plants can be annuals, biennials, or tender perennials. However, more times than not, they are typically annuals, meaning they only grow and flower for one year. 

While shopping at your local garden center, consider incorporating these cool-season plants into your landscape: pansies, violas, snapdragons, dianthus, cape daisies, and alyssum. These bedding plants will provide continuous blooms this fall and are packed with colorful flowers. You can further encourage more blooms by practicing deadheading.

Tips:

  • Pansies and violas: Best for borders, containers, and window boxes. Did you know that they are edible? Make sure plants are in soil that is well-drained and full sun, and irrigate them only as needed. 
  • Snapdragons: These beauties prefer full sun. You can get a second round of flowers. To do so, you’ll need to cut them back within five or six nodes of the ground when the first flowers fade. Don’t forget to fertilize when the second flower bud crop becomes visible. Please make sure to follow UF/IFAS on social media for fertilizer recommendations.  
  • Dianthus: These plants will flower through winter and spring, only stopping when temperatures rise, usually in May. They will not tolerate wet soil conditions! Some recommended varieties are the hybrid Telstar dianthus, which are low-growing plants that come in several colors, and Dianthus "First Love" (D. caryophyllus) — the flowers that open white, then turn to pink and eventually lavender.
  • Cape daisies or white African daisy: Keep these plants away from damp sites, which may result in fungal diseases. These flowers work well in front of borders, in small groupings, along walkways, or in containers. 
  • Alyssum: This plant is low-growing and has been reported to be deer-resistant. Also, this plant does an amazing job at attracting beneficial insects into whatever location they are placed. 


The Flagler County Extension and Master Gardeners are dedicated to offering valuable educational resources to guide you on your gardening journey and help you realize your horticultural aspirations. 

For further updates and information, we invite you to connect with us on Facebook (@FlaglerCountyMasterGardeners) or reach out to us via email at [email protected]. We look forward to assisting you in your gardening endeavors and fostering your passion for gardening.

 

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