Even though the weather is cooling down, you can still enjoy the beautiful color that plants can give your landscape. A great way to enjoy color is by using containers. Some good choices for containers are clay or glazed pots. When using containers make sure, there is good drainage. Many containers have drainage hole in the bottom, this allow the excess water to drain out. If the container does not have a drainage hole in the bottom add small rocks, broken pot pieces or other drainage material to the bottom of the container to allow a place for excess water to drain to in the pot. When filling the container with soil, make sure you use a quality potting soil. Consider using an accent plant to set off the color plants in your container. Some good examples of evergreen accent plants are Dwarf Alberta Spruce, Degroot Spire Arborvitae and boxwood (American, Dwarf English, variegated or pyramid). Then plant your color plants around the accent plants. Use pansies, violas, heuchera or variegated ivy. By using evergreen accent plants, you can also string lights around them during the holiday season. If you would rather use colorful plants as accent pieces try using ornamental cabbage or kale, mustard, parsley or snapdragons, which bloom until spring. Then add pansies, violas or herbs for the finished look.

It is also a good time to mulch your plants. For container plants, add mini nuggets or pine or hardwood mulch. For your landscape, there are many choices such as pine straw, which should be spread about three inches thick. This helps keep the moisture in and keeps the cold out. For wood mulch, there are large nuggets, mini nuggets, pine, cedar, hardwood, cypress and colored mulch. Not only will mulch protect your plants, it will also give a finished look to your landscape.

Happy gardening.