Shrubs with Great Fall Color

Fall planting season is in full swing, and plants with autumn color are about to put on their glorious show. So, not surprisingly, it's a perfect time to plan and plant new landscaping, and at the top of the list are plants with great fall color. Here are a few of the most spectacular shrubs to look for:

Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) generally grows 4 to 6 feet tall and equally as wide. The small leaves, which in some varieties are purplish or red during the growing season, turn yellow, orange and red before dropping in fall. Bright red berries add to the autumn show. Japanese barberry is a durable foundation shrub and can also be clipped as a hedge.

Cotoneasters (Cotoneaster sp.) are a diverse group of plants, most of which have showy spring flowers followed by colorful berries. The deciduous species also have glowing orange to red fall color. Many are taller shrubs, but among the most useful deciduous species are types that can be used as ground covers, such as rock cotoneaster (C. horizontalis). It grows just 2 to 3 feet high but spreads up to 15 feet wide.

Witch Hazels (Hamamelis sp.) are well known for their small, fragrant, yellow to red flowers that appear on bare branches in early spring. They also have excellent yellow to orange or red fall color. There are several species to choose from, most of which are taller shrubs that reach 10 to 15 feet high.

Spiraeas (Spiraea sp.) are another large group of flowering shrubs, many with excellent fall color. Some of the best known include varieties of the Japanese spiraea (S. japonica) like 'Bumalda,’ which grows 3 feet high, has pink summer flowers and orange-red fall color. Vanhouttei spiraea (V. x vanhouttei) bears large clusters of white, spring flowers on an arching 6-foot-high plant. Leaves turn purplish in fall.

The Deciduous Viburnums (Viburnum sp.) offer many useful shrubs with large clusters of spring to summer flowers (often followed by colorful berries) as well as good fall color. Ones to look for include the European cranberry bush (V. opulus), Japanese snowbell (V. plicatum) and cranberry bush (V. trilobum). All are larger shrubs that can grow up to 12 to 15 feet high and have yellow to purplish-red fall color.

Check with your local nurseryman to see how these shrubs perform in your area. And to get them off to a strong start, use Bayer Advanced™ Tree & Shrub Insect Control Concentrate. One application provides up to 12 months of protection.

Garlic is King

Few herbs are as versatile and beloved as garlic. It has been grown since ancient times and is a key ingredient in diverse cuisines from Italy to China to Mexico and back again. Garlic is easy to grow as long as you plant it at the right time of year. In mild-winter areas where the ground doesn't freeze, garlic is best planted in fall and harvested in early summer. In colder areas, plant in early spring for late-summer harvest.

You may think that "garlic is garlic," but there are actually many varieties. Nurseries and mail-order catalogs offer selections with names like 'Inchellium Red,' 'Chet's Italian Red,' 'Susanville' and 'Chinese Purple.' Varieties vary in flavor, size and color, and perform differently under varying climate conditions. Experiment with different varieties to see which ones do best for you. Elephant garlic is actually more closely related to leeks. It produces huge bulbs with mild flavor.

Plant garlic in full sun and well-drained soil. Purchase disease-free cloves (often called sets) from nurseries or mail-order catalogs. Plant them about 1 inch deep and 3 to 4 inches apart with the pointed side up. Leave 12 to 15 inches between rows. Fertilize the planting bed with Bayer Advanced™ Triple Action All Purpose Plant Food Granules and water thoroughly.

Garlic is ready to harvest when the tops start to dry out and fall over. Gently lift the bulbs with a spading fork and allow them to air dry (if its very hot move the bulbs to a shady spot to dry). When dry, cut off most of the tops and store in a cool, dry spot out of direct sun.

Fall Care for Young Trees

Autumn is also an important time to check the health of young trees. Even though many will soon be going dormant, actions you take now will help them get through winter and grow vigorously next spring.

First, make sure young trees are well-watered. Even dormant trees can be subject to desiccation if the soil is dry. If a tree grew poorly last summer or had yellowing foliage, make a light application of a complete fertilizer according to label instructions. The roots will be able to absorb the nutrients even after leaves have dropped.

If the tree is staked, make sure it is not tied too tightly. A loosely tied tree will develop a stronger trunk and won’t become girdled. If you live in a mild-winter climate, make sure grass and weeds are not growing near the trunk. There should be a mulched, weed-free area around the base of the tree.

As mentioned above, fall is also a great time to protect young trees from next year's insects. Apply Bayer Advanced™ 12-Month Tree and Shrub Protect and Feed Concentrate now and protect your new investment for up to 12 months.

Fall Lawn Tune-Up

Fall is the most important time of the year when it comes to caring for cool-season lawns. The work you do now on your bluegrass or fescue lawn will really pay off later this fall and next spring.

Test your soil. A soil test will reveal serious nutrient imbalances and recommend whether you need to add lime or sulfur to adjust the pH. Your local cooperative extension can provide assistance in analyzing your soil for any deficiencies or will put you in touch with a private soil lab that can.

Control grubs. Late summer and fall can be the most active time for grubs. If you see irregular brown spots in your lawn or find grubs, apply Bayer Advanced™ 24-Hour Grub Killer Plus Granules. Its highly effective formula offers overnight results against grubs. For more on grubs, click here.

Control and prevent lawn diseases. Use Bayer Advanced™ Fungus Control for Lawns Granules to control and prevent lawn diseases such as brown patch, dollar spot and red thread.

Fertilize. Fall is the most important time to fertilize cool-season lawns. Follow label instructions for amounts of fertilizer to apply and how to set your fertilizer spreader correctly.

Control weeds. Weeds compete with grasses for water and nutrients and make your lawn look lousy. A well-cared-for lawn will resist weed invasions, but if you’re having problems, use Bayer Advanced™ All-In-One Weed Killer for Lawns Ready-To-Use. It will kill all your broadleaf lawn weeds, including clover, dandelion, plantain, plus your grassy weeds, such as crabgrass, at one time with one application. This one product kills over 200 lawn weeds now and will help minimize problems next spring. Bayer Advanced™ All-In-One Weed Killer for Lawns Ready-To-Use in the convenient, ready-to-use form contains SmartTrack® red dye, which shows you exactly which weeds you’ve already sprayed before it naturally fades away. To treat larger areas, purchase the concentrated or hose end formulations allowing you to control all the weeds PLUS crabgrass in your lawn at one time, saving you money and time. Apply only when daytime temperatures will remain below 85 degrees.

Aerate. Aerating, which removes small cores of soil, is one of the best things you can do for your lawn. It improves water and nutrient penetration, increases the amount of air that reaches the roots and helps reduce thatch (a dense layer of organic matter that forms between the leaves and roots; if it gets over a 1/2-inch thick, it prevents air, water and nutrients from reaching the roots and the lawn begins to suffer). You can hire a lawn service to aerate your lawn, or rent a power aerator from a local rental yard and do it yourself. Once a year is usually often enough.

Plant. Fall is also the best time to plant cool-season lawns from sod or seed, so start a new lawn or repair thin areas of your existing turf. You can also overseed warm-season lawns with cool-season grasses to keep them green all winter in southern areas.

Water and mow. Don’t let up on regular lawn care. Water less as the days get cooler, but don’t let your lawn dry out. Be sure to follow appropriate local water guidelines. Mow regularly.