New England Purple Aster

Golden sunlight on an autumn afternoon in a Pennsylvania woodland

Rose-purple flowers of sedum “Autumn Joy”

Fall color displayed on a Pin Oak Tree

Late fall colors on“Red Cardinal” shrub dogwood; sedum “Matrona” and Amsonia

Fothergilla is an outstanding small shrub for fall color

The merlot-colored foliage of oakleaf hydrangea

Abundant red fruit featured on winterberry holly

In the springtime, we as gardeners and homeowners are bursting with spring fever. We admire our blossoming bulbs and scour the local garden centers as we prepare to plant our vegetable and perennial gardens.

By fall, however, many of us are simply spent. We are tired of preserving our gardens and landscapes through copious amounts of watering and weeding. The landscaped beds are looking somewhat bedraggled by this time; the vegetable gardens are near expiration; and the days are growing increasingly shorter and cooler.

Many of us think of autumn as the end of the season, a time to reflect and turn our thoughts towards hibernation for the winter. The truth is, our landscapes and gardens can and should be at their best in the fall. A good fall typically has bright sunny days and brisk nights. These conditions help to bring out the best colors in the changing leaves and fall flowers. All we have to do is observe nature’s landscape.

The autumn splendor begins in September as the mauve flowers of the August blooming Joy-Pye weed are fading to brown. Autumn brings its floral richness, often with a riot of color – nothing too loud, but rather the subdued colors of the deep amethyst flowers of ironweed (Vernonia) blossoming on six-foot stems among fields of golden rod (Solidago spp.), purple aster (Aster novae-angliae), wood asters (Aster divaricutus) and tall thistles (Cirsium altissimum).

The bright blue skies and cooler temperatures of fall appeal to even the most ardent couch potato. The various hardwood tree species like cherry, yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), red and white oak, and red maple (Acer rubrum) usually reach their peak color around mid-October.

You’ll notice that, in addition to spectacular foliage color, fall presents a cornucopia of fruits, berries and seeds to be observed. The fruits of the forests’ harvest – even the lemon-colored berries on the spikes of sumac – are all incredibly important to the area’s wildlife. The bright red fruit clusters of the native spicebush (Lindera benzoin) alert migrating birds to its whereabouts as a major food source. Some of our most beloved songbirds, such as wood warblers and thrushes, are neo-tropical migrants. They come to Pennsylvania forests in the spring and summer to breed and then return to the tropical forests of Central and South America for the winter.

So, how can we incorporate some of nature’s sensibilities into our landscapes and gardens? Fall is a good time for reassessing and taking notice of which perennials (e.g., hosta, monarda, chelone, coneflower) can be divided and shared among friends and neighbors. Did you know that the spent seed heads of many plants such as anemone, sedum, coneflower, perovskia and caryopteris can be left on the plants as winter garden features? Most ornamental grasses can be left uncut for spectacular winter interest, especially if the landscape has night-lighting to illuminate their architectural structure. As an added bonus to fall gardening, weeding generally becomes easier and less supplemental watering is required of the owner. In short, the horticultural demands become less daunting during the autumn season.

Perhaps it is time to consider making some drastic changes to your landscape. Consider expanding various planting areas. Conversely, if the size of a specific area was too challenging to maintain, reduce it. If you did not like something in particular about your landscape or garden, get rid of it. Create a compost pile and begin to make soil for next year’s pots, or incorporate your compost (after a full year of decomposing) into the gardens. Fall is an excellent time for experimenting and trying something new. Buy a new tree or shrub that you have heard about from a beloved gardener or that you may have seen on one of our many local garden tours. Experiment with different planting schemes. Remember, most plants are forgiving and can be transplanted multiple times if you are dissatisfied with the way something looks or has not performed.

In both the southwestern Pennsylvania woodlands and our individual gardens, the fall season ends with the appearance of the bright yellow, spider-like blossoms of the native under-story tree, the Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana). Shortly thereafter, the leaves fall and the woods assume the open aspect of winter. As Henry David Thoreau so eloquently stated, each fallen leaf is “about to add one leaf’s thickness to the depth of the soil.”

As you can see, autumn is not the time to neglect your garden; rather, it is an extension of spring. Winter lasts long enough without adding extra months to it by terminating the gardening and landscaping season early. Autumn is not a time of death but a step in the process of the renewal of life. Whether you’ll take a hike through a state park or forest or take in the changing season in your own backyard, I hope you’ll take the time to appreciate the autumn season and all its splendor and delights.

Sourwood Tree (oxydendrum arboreum) is an excellent year-round tree. In early summer, it bears clusters of small white flowers resembling lily of the valley. The autumn foliage is garnet-red and sourwood is even admirable in winter with its dried seeds. It is one of our best native trees growing to 25–30 feet.

Oak-leaf Hydrangea (hydrangea quercifolia) is indispensable for its large and showy cotton-candy-like clusters of creamy white blossoms in mid-summer. Discovered in 1773 in Georgia by William Bartram, it is adaptable in either full sun or part shade, reaching a height of five feet. Once the leaves drop, the bark reveals a deep cinnamon-orange color that is outstanding when contrasted with a fresh snowfall.

American Beautyberry (callicarpa americana) is unrivaled for its fall and winter display of amethyst-colored berries. This shrub has a natural cascading habit and adds interest and beauty to any landscape. Beautyberry can easily grow five feet tall and just as wide.

Purple Smoke Bush (cotinus coggygria ‘Purpureus’) is one of my absolute favorite heirloom shrubs. This shrub has a radiance that emanates from the plant when it catches the golden light of the fall sun. Smoke bush can reach spreading heights of 8–10 feet and just as wide.

Franklinia (franklinia altamaha) is a native small tree (25") that is suitable for woodland properties or those with good shade. This tree was re-discovered in Georgia by William Bartram , who named it for Benjamin Franklin in 1777. It blooms fragrant white flowers resembling camellias in late August. The foliage turns a beautiful bronze-red that shows off the prolific flowers.

Fothergilla (fothergilla gardenii) is a native deciduous shrub growing 3–5 feet tall and wide. Abundant fragrant, creamy-white flowers resembling a bottlebrush appear in mid-May. The foliage turns a deep orange to burgundy in late fall. It’s a good option for sun or part shade.

Winterberry Holly (ilex verticillata) is a deciduous holly that is ideal for a wet area, although it is adaptable to dry areas. This holly requires both a female (Winter Red) and a male (Jim Dandy) to produce abundant brilliant red berries that persist through the winter months. These hollies grow to 6–7 feet tall and five feet wide. It’s an ideal plant for the late fall-winter landscape.

Richard Liberto is a landscape designer and horticulturist. He can be reached at: libertodesign@comcast.net