The Easy Way: Plant Mums and PansiesMums and pansies are favorite standbys as fall flowers, with good reason. They look great, they can grow almost anywhere in the country, and they're usually easy to find at garden centers. You can group them in planters or flower beds, and they'll add color long after your perennials go dormant. But, if you want to try a different look, the next paragraph is for you.
Include Natives in Your PlanYou can greatly enhance your fall garden garden by choosing plants native to your region. Some good choices include California poppy in the West, blackfoot daisy in the Southwest, big leaf aster in the Southeast, and New England aster or boltonia in the Northeast and Midwest.
Provide a Healthy HomeWhether you choose mums and pansies or try your hand with local native flowers, you'll get the best results if give them a good environment for growing. For in-ground garden plantings, that means incorporating plenty of organic matter by adding soil amendments or Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Flowers & Vegetables to your native soil. Follow spacing and planting directions on the plant tags. For container gardens, use a specialized potting medium such as Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix or Miracle-Gro® Moisture Control&trade Potting Mix.
Feed Your Flowers RegularlyFeed your fall plants with Miracle-Gro® LiquaFeed All Purpose Plant Food or LiquaFeed® Bloom Booster® Flower Food starting two weeks after planting. Follow a regular feeding schedule to produce beautiful blooms and healthy growth.
Water as NeededEven though summer's heat has passed, you may still need to water your flowers frequently if you live in the Southwest or a coastal region with warm winters and sandy soil. In areas such as the Northeast and Midwest, fall usually brings plenty of rain, but be sure to check the soil and water as necessary to provide your plants a steady supply of moisture.
Your fall flowers will produce more blooms for a longer period if you remove flowers that have faded and started turning brown. Called deadheading, this cleanup is easily accomplished and well worth the little bit of time it takes.
