Gardening: Planting fall colors

KUSA - Fall is in the air and we're ready to see the colors of the new season on our porches and around the patio. It's time to pitch the petunias and plant some fall color.

The last week of September and first week of October are generally the best weeks to freshen the containers and beds with brilliant fall color. The nighttime temperatures are much cooler and there are fewer hours of daylight.

With the hot days of summer behind, plants can now settle in without heat stress and their roots can take off to get set for winter.

Pansies and their smaller cousins - violas - are standbys for fall flowers and for good reason. They are hardy enough to bloom throughout the fall and even during the winter. Best yet, they'll be back early next season with bright spring color.

New pansies this year are Lavender Plum and Mammoth Red. Combine these two for striking color - or mix them with contrasting shades.

If you're a Bronco fan, make a container full of pansies in team colors. On Broncos Sunday, drop in the team banner that's attached to a stick or dowel to show your support.

Other fall bloomers are asters and mums. They come in a variety of colors ranging from lavenders and purples to soft or brilliant yellows to rust and bronze. Most asters and mums are perennials that you can plant this fall and enjoy for years to come.

Don't forget to add foliage in fall combinations. Foliage adds drama when included with flowers because of the deep shades and texture that make these plants distinctive. Incorporate ornamental kale, sedum, coral bells and ornamental grasses into containers and beds alike. Their deep hues and texture will backstop flowering plants and make their color pop. Information courtesy Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado - sponsors of the 9NEWS Kitchen Garden and the 9NEWS Water Wise Garden. For help with your landscape needs, go to http://www.alcc.com and click on Find a Pro.

(KUSA-TV 2012 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)

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Gardening: Planting fall colors