Selling Your Home - Spruce Up The Flowerbeds with a Fall Garden

The last week has been wonderful. Evening temperatures have been down in the 50's on some nights. The cooler temperatures are causing the leaves to start turning, although we are going to need to see the 40's before we get the real vibrant colors. I've had my windows open to let in the cool air. Even though it's in the 80's this afternoon, I know the long hot summer is on its way out.

My husband and I were walking Maggie this morning and she likes the cool weather, too. She has a brisk step and her tongue doesn't hang down nearly as far. I'm looking forward to some long walks in the woods in a couple of weeks.

But as we were walking through the neighborhood, I noticed how tired the flower beds looked. Those summer flowers looked pretty beat up, as heat and humidity has really taken its toll. My Lantana hanging baskets are still looking good, and the orange begonias are festive, but most of the beds are on their last leg.

Now is the time to take advantage of the glorious weather in autumn by spending time in your garden. The cooler, more comfortable temperatures mean you can refresh plants, add fall color and prepare and plan for the year ahead.

My roses, which like the cooler weather are starting to put out new buds for their fall showing!! Mums are everywhere this time of year. They are great for flower pots, but if you plant them in the ground, they will come back next year. I have some purple ones in the backyard that have been in my yard for three years. Other fall choices include, sedum, orange or yellow begonias and black eyed susans which will help add color and fill in empty areas to keep your garden lush all season long.

I have a hard time pulling up the summer flowers until they have totally croaked, but it is best to just pull them up now. As in the spring, fall gardening begins with soil preparation. Pull up vegetable plants, flowers and old vines, and then apply an inch or two of compost in the garden. Add a thick blanket of mulch to conserve soil moisture and deter weeds. You can then plant lettuce, spinach and other cool weather vegetables. Herbs such as chives, parsley, cilantro, rosemary and sage like the cool temps as well. And the happy flower of all times the pansy!! I like to plant my tulip bulbs first which will come up in the spring and then cover them with 3 colors of pansies. I haven't decided on the colors yet. There are so many to choose from. A couple of years ago I chose purple, blue and white pansies and had pink tulips planted underneath. The show in the spring was fantastic.

Fall is also a good time to plant trees and perennials that you want to bloom in the spring. Our temps here in Hoover, Alabama don't get too cold so even though the flowers don't bloom in the fall, the roots have a good chance to grow over the winter months.

If you are thinking about Selling Your Home in Hoover, Alabama, remember that Curb Appeal. I beautiful fall garden now, or a showy display of bulbs in the spring could be the one thing that makes someone fall in love with YOUR home.