As the sun grows a bit gentler, Tri-State residents will take to their gardens to pull weeds, prune shrubs, and prepare perennials. Autumn is a terrific time to get next year’s plants into the ground so they can take root before winter’s cold.
The key, says Colonial Classics Landscaping & Nursery co-owner JT McCarty, is to plot out your plants so they will thrive.
“The best thing any homeowner can do is do a little homework first: Pick the right plant for the right spot in the right quantity, and plant it at the right time,” he says. “If you don’t educate yourself about which plant should go in which spot, you’re committing the first sin of landscaping.”
McCarty says plants frequently look better if they’re clustered or grouped together, but giving greenery enough breathing space is important. Likewise, permeable weed barriers need to leave enough room for water and fertilizer.
“To keep plants healthy, you want to give your plants the right kinds of nutrients,” McCarty says. “It doesn’t hurt to augment our heavy clay soils with compost. Add gypsum or lime to the soil to raise the pH.”
Keep It Classic
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