Fall Landscaping

What do you see as you look out over the fall landscape? I see plants that I've put a whole lot of work into over the last few months. As such, I see an investment that has paid off, especially regarding the shrubs I grow for fall color. I think back to all the work I've done this year watering them and pruning them, or handling compost or mulch meant to make them grow better. And now, I behold them in all their glory, resplendent with the colors that make them a staple in my fall landscape.

The spring landscape holds the seeds (literally!) of a fresh start and thus carries an undeniable excitement of its own. But the fall landscape holds a trump card: the harvest. For many in the modern world, the concept of the harvest has lost much of its impact. We get our food from a supermarket; our ancestors were more likely to harvest their own food. They lived closer to the land. The harvest wasn't about decorating with cornstalks for them: It was a matter of life or death.

So as a denizen of the modern world, myself, why do I have such an appreciation for the fall? I think it has something to do with the fullness of the season, the superabundance all around us in the natural world during harvest time. The sights, smells and tastes of fall are truly a treat for the senses of this throwback. Keep right on playing your video games, modern world, if you wish; but I'll be out in the garden, inhaling that unique scent that squash vines emit as they begin to break down in fall.

But the autumn also brings with it some fall landscaping chores that we must perform before the arrival of winter. My tips will tell you what you need to do and why you need to it. Don't worry, the work isn't too hard. And the cooler temperatures make fall landscaping a breeze, compared to toiling under the summer sun.

Kelly Burke, About.com's Lawn Care Guide, informs us that it's OK to ease up on watering the lawn in fall. In fact, it's more than OK: Kelly notes that you can actually harm the grass through excessive watering in the fall. As one who has had enough of hoses after a summer's worth of dragging them all over the lawn, I welcome the respite.

As pleasant as I find fall landscaping, I could do without the yellow jackets that are so active this time of year, though. Don't buy into the tripe about how they won't bother you if you don't bother them. I've learned that yellow jackets define "bother" rather broadly....

Put in your 2 cents: What Are the Best Plants for Fall Color?

Worth a Thousand Words: Landscaping Pictures