Back to reality....
Mount Washington, NH Vacation Highlights
It was cold at the top but the view was worth it!
Well designed trails made hiking easy and fun for the whole family!
And you know I couldn't help checking out the local plants!
A trip to the beautiful mountains of New Hampshire after some very hot weeks of summer was the perfect refreshing getaway. I hope you've had some quality r&r time yourself this season - with change of seasons and cooler weather, it's back to reality!
It may be time for back to school but Summer's still officially here for most of September, and the warm weather continues well into October - so there's plenty of time to enjoy your outdoor spaces. If your summer annuals are fading you can opt to replace them with fall annuals like Mums, Marigolds, or ornamental cabbage and kale. (Watch out for the cabbage and kale if you get deer in the yard.) These are traditional plants that herald in cooler weather. Fall also is an excellent time to plant perennials. Take a look at the garden. Maybe some of your perennials didn't make it this year or have outgrown their spaces. Or perhaps the gardens you planted closest to your house or patio are going gangbusters but you're eyeing up that neglected corner. It's an excellent season to reimagine your outdoor space. By taking advantage of what already exists (fencing, an old wall, outbuildings, hills or trees) you can transform your yard by moving shrubs that have outgrown their spaces and/or adding new plantings to complement what is already there. Some examples:
Planting roses or other perennial climbers like clematis against fences or sheds to add softness and color
Converting a tree stump into a natural planter. Check this out to see what I mean.
Adding island beds or borders filled with perennials to add privacy and soften hard edges of a rectangular lot.
Planting trees or shrubs in corners can also soften corners (again choose carefully if you have deer) Some choices to consider
Native Rhodedendron - an excellent evergreen choice
Elegantissima Arborvitae - a medium sized evergreen tree with interesting foliage
Dogwood - a spring beauty and a good choice to add an understory to existing trees
Taking advantage of these warm days to add to your garden will pay off by not only giving you pleasure now and for years to come, but also by adding value to your home. Don't forget next tasks for the year coming up in cooler weather: Fall cleanup Planting fall bulbs Holiday Decorations Please call or text me at (973) 452-0354 for help with those or: Lawn maintenance Landscape design Scheduling aerating and fall clean up Thank you for reading and I'll see you soon! -- Raf
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