October is here and it is time to start fall planting. Since there is little color, you may want to think about adding some cool season color plantings.

One of the most popular fall seasonal plants is pansies. They will bloom until spring and there are many colors to choose from including oranges, reds, yellows, blues, purples, whites and mixed colors.

Pansies come in varieties that have solid color blooms or different colors in the same bloom. For best blooming results, pinch off old blooms since this will promote new bloom growth.

Pansies are available for purchase in six-packs, 4-inch pots and 5 1/2 inch pots. The larger the pot the more established the plant is. Violas are another great choice, they are like pansies but have smaller blooms. They also come in many colors. For added appeal, use accent plants to create a focal point. One example of focal plants is snapdragon, which comes in an array of colors and can also be planted separately in groups. Other good choices for focal plants are mustard plant, swiss chard and parsley. To create more interest consider adding fall herbs such as oregano, seasonal varieties of thyme or sage.

It is very important to have well prepared planting beds. For the best results mix mushroom compost, manure compost or custom soil mix with the existing soil and mix well. Make sure the bed drains well to prevent root damage that can occur when the roots stay too wet. Once the plants are installed spread pine bark, mini nuggets or mulch on top of the soil to keep some of the moisture in and the weeds out.

Also for fall, you should spread winterizer fertilizer (5-5-25) to help promote good root growth for cool weather. Then spread crab grass preventer on your lawn to prevent the growth of fast spreading Poa Annua weed, which can be a lawn’s worst nightmare in the fall and winter.

Happy gardening.