I intended to do more landscape improvements this spring and summer. Is it too late for me to plant anything?
Although there is not much selection in the fall at big-box stores, full-service nurseries and garden stores have a full selection of plants now. Planting container plants now will be just as good as in spring, as long as you water the new plants frequently until they have established their roots.
Large selections of perennial flowers, ornamental grasses, ground covers, hostas, hydrangeas, shrub roses, camellias, dwarf crape myrtle, dahlias, heuchera and herb plants are available. On a recent visit to a garden store, I found a larger selection of blooming hydrangeas than at any time of year. There were large tree-form varieties in full bloom, hydrangeas with pointed white panicle flowers that turn deep pink, varieties that are repeat blooming.
Lagerstromia or crape myrtle is normally a small tree that blooms in late summer. There was a selection of dwarf shrub varieties in lavender, red, pink and other colors, many budded and in bloom, ranging in mature height from 3 to 10 feet.
