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Sunset recommends that you consider pansies, petunias and garden mums as a few such hardy annuals you can plant in early October. Pansies (Viola) grow in full sun to part shade and are the go-to annual for colorful gardens. Petunias (Petunia) are deer-tolerant, cool-season annuals that produce blooms in bright colors.

Technically, you can plant perennials any time your soil is workable. Practically, the best times to plant perennials are spring or fall. These seasons allow plants to get settled and grow new roots before summer's hot, dry weather arrives. Planting in summer is okay, but you'll need to water frequently.

Fragrant choices include lavender, Russian sage, butterfly bush, and some fall-blooming roses. Many of these plants are attractive to birds, including hummingbirds, and to bees and butterflies, providing a haven for native wildlife and pollinators, as well as beauty.Oct 19, 2021

• 34 Perennials to Cut Back in the Fall Bearded Iris (Iris germanica) Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) Blackberry Lily (Iris domestica) Blanket Flower (Gaillardia x grandiflora) Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum') Catmint (Nepeta) Columbine (Aquilegia) Corydalis (Corydalis lutea) Crocosmia (Crocosmia) Daylily (Hemerocallis) More items...

• However, fall-pruning is best done after the plant has entered dormancy and stopped growing; pruning too early in the fall, when the plant is still growing, can encourage tender new growth that is especially susceptible to damage from cold weather.

• Perennial flowers, ground covers and grasses generally don't need a lot of fertilizer and, in fact, some will react negatively if too much is applied. An over-fertilized perennial will reward gardeners with excess growth that flops over and becomes leggy half-way through the season.

• Most perennials benefit from division after 3-5 years. If you can't find information about a specific plant, a general rule is to space small perennials 6-12 inches apart, 2-3-foot-tall perennials 12-18 inches apart, and taller perennials 18-36 inches apart.

Wondering which flowers to sow in September? It's time to sow calendula, larkspur, nigella and poppy seeds outdoors, plus wildflowers. In the greenhouse, sow cyclamen, pelargonium and schizanthus seeds and sow sweet pea seeds in a cold frame.

A: It's not too late! You can transplant perennials anytime until the ground freezes in the fall, or wait to transplant them in the spring.Oct 2, 2017

Many gardeners are hesitant to try starting perennials by seed because of the notion that you will not get to enjoy the flowers the first year. This is true for some perennials, but if you sow seeds for the perennials on this list early in the season, they will reward you by flowering within the same year.

You can plant them anytime during the winter and then set them outside no matter what the weather. The theory is that the seeds know when to sprout and they will come up at the right time. Many perennials require “cold stratification” in order to germinate. ... The freezing and thawing helps break open the seed coat.Jan 28, 2014

Echinacea is easy to grow from seed, as well, but requires a cold, moist period—called stratification—in order to germinate. Sow seeds thickly in the fall (after hard-frost in the north and before winter rains elsewhere), covering lightly to discourage birds from eating them. Seeds will germinate in the spring.

If the winter is not overly harsh, Calendula, Borage, and Marigolds will also do quite well. Many flowering perennials require an extended period of cold in order to germinate. Campfire Rudbeckia, Echinacea, Columbine, and Yarrow can all be winter-sown. Try Blazing Star or Anise Hyssop for vertical interest.

Sow winter-hardy spring onions, such as 'White Lisbon' and 'Performer' for crops next spring. Make your last direct sowing of summer radish 'Rainbow Mixed' this month for autumn cropping. Sow turnip seeds into well-prepared beds for small roots. Sow winter lettuce, such as 'Arctic King', directly into the ground now.

• Fall planting of trees and shrubs. Trees that can be successfully planted in the fall include alder, ash, buckeye, catalpa , crabapple , hackberry, hawthorn, honey locust, elm , Kentucky coffee tree , linden , maple, sycamore, pines , and spruces. Most deciduous shrubs can easily be planted in fall.

• The roots of evergreens will grow more aggressively when planted in early fall, because the soil is still warm and the air has become more moist. Planting evergreens in the fall means making sure not to plant too late . In most areas, November and December is too late to plant.

• Late summer (late August to mid-September) is an excellent time to plant many perennials. It is also a good time to move or divide perennials, such as peony, daylily, garden phlox, and oriental poppy. Perennials planted in late summer should be mulched with several inches of straw, pine needles, or other materials in late November.

• Fall Planting. If you live in a temperate climate zone, you can scatter poppy seeds in a prepared garden area in fall. Clear the area of weeds and dig in organic compost to give the soil better drainage and nutrients. Cover seeds with no more than ½ inch of soil.