When to Plant Pansies For Fall

Pansies are a fantastic choice for Virginia gardens, offering a vibrant display of color for an extended period. To enjoy blooms throughout the fall, winter, and spring, consider the following planting schedule:

• Fall Planting: Plant pansies in mid-September to early October to enjoy their beauty through the fall and into the winter.
• Successive Plantings: For continuous blooms, make multiple plantings spaced a week or two apart. This will ensure a steady supply of colorful flowers throughout the season.

Planting Pansies

• Prep: Choose a planting location that is well-drained and works in 4-6 inches of rich organic matter, such as Meadows Farms Planting Mix or peat moss.
• Plant: Plant pansies at about the same level, or slightly higher, than they were growing in their market packs or containers, taking care not to plant too deep or the plants may wilt and rot and the roots could smother.
• Maintenance: After planting, mulch and water the bed thoroughly. Remember to check the plants often during the first three weeks after planting or until new growth begins, to ensure adequate moisture necessary for healthy growth. Because these plants require very little care, no further maintenance is usually necessary for them to reach their full potential.

Where to Plant Pansies

Pansies are incredibly versatile and can be used to enhance various areas of your garden or landscape. Here are some of our favorite planting ideas:

• Along Paths and Walls: Add a graceful drift of single-colored pansies or a mass of mixed colors to brighten a border, under a tree or along a fence, pathway, deck, or wall.
• Garden Borders: Try tucking single plants in garden beds around perennials and shrubs that have finished blooming to brighten up an otherwise dreary section of the landscape and to help mask older, spent growth.
• Container: Pansies also do well in containers placed on a deck or patio or next to the entrance of your home to greet your guests with welcoming colors.
• Hanging Baskets: Try pansies in a hanging basket and you can even move them indoors to enjoy when the weather is too poor for outdoor gardening.
• As a Gift: A small container of fall pansies can also be a great gift for winter holidays, birthdays, or just to brighten the day for anyone who could use a touch of color in their life.

Shop Pansies for Fall Planting

Visit any of our local garden centers in Virginia, Maryland, or West Virginia to explore a stunning array of fall pansies. Our knowledgeable staff is ready to assist you in selecting the perfect varieties for your garden and provide expert guidance on planting and care.

The post Fall In Love with Fall Pansies appeared first on Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscaping.

Mums have been grown for their beautiful fall flowers for centuries (recorded as early as 500 B.C.) The flowers come in many beautiful colors and bloom from early September until late fall. Mums will grow well in almost any soil although they prefer harsh, limy, well-drained soil. Full sun is best, but a half day’s sun will suffice. When used as cut flowers, mums will last up to three weeks after picking. Mums can also be used as potted houseplants.

How To Plant

Gently knock plants out of pots. Plant so that the top of the roots is level with the existing soil surface. Use a 50-50 mix of Meadows Farms Planting Mix and your existing soil to fill in around your mum. Water well and apply a plant starter such as Espoma Bio-Tone Plus. Mulch 2- to 3-inches with Meadows Farms Shredded Mulch to maintain moisture and prevent winter heaving. A fertilizer such as 5-10-5 can be applied in spring. Your chrysanthemums should be spaced 18- to 24-inches apart.

Use In The Garden

Groups of three or complete mum plantings are very impressive, yet a single specimen amidst other material will also show up very well. Mums may be moved in full bloom to any desired location, even a partly shady location. Potted or tubbed plants are delightful on terraces, porches, patios, etc.

Winter Care

In late fall, after blooms are finished, cut old stems down to 4- to 6-inches and apply 2-inches of Meadows Farms Shredded Hardwood Mulch to prevent frost heaving in winter.

Division of Older Plants

We recommend an annual spring division of established mums.

Pinching

If you are wondering why your beautiful, bushy mums turned into leggy, floppy ones, pinching is the answer. The first pinch in May is the crucial one. Remove at least half of the mum tops, leaving approximately four leaves per stem and the ground. This produces “breaks” low enough to support the weight of many flowers. Pinch back half the new growth in June and half the new growth in July. Pinching after July 10th delays the flowering and may create flowers at frost.

Summer Care

Watering, in dry spells, should be liberal on a weekly basis, not hit or miss daily. Keep your mums free of weeds. Retain loose mulch all summer. Application of a liquid fertilizer such as Jack’s All Purpose is a good practice.

Insects and Disease

Diseases are seldom a problem. Aphids may be a problem in the spring. Use Bayer Insect, Disease, and Mite Control as recommended to control them.

So try out chrysanthemums in your garden for beautiful, vibrant colors this fall.

Need Help Getting Started? Visit Us for Expert Advice and Supplies!

With 17 locations across 3 states Meadows Farms is close by and happy to help. Our expert team will walk you through options and help with project planning. Visit us to view our selection and get started today.

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