New Eco: Urban Landscape Design

It has been common knowledge in the gardening industry for a long time that fall is the best time to plant.  I know as soon as the weather gets nice, the spring rush to plant begins and I think this is the reason many people think that spring is actually the ideal time to plant.  One of the reasons I prefer planting in the fall is because I don't have the summer heat chasing me down but the other reason is because in the wild, nature "plants" in the fall and if thats what happens in nature, I have a nagging feeling that it might be happening for good reason.  Here is a good article from the seed company American Meadows that sums up all the reasons why you should skip spring and wait for cooler weather. 

Why Many Experts Feel Fall Planting is Best

You know its fall when you see Mums and Flowering Cabbage everywhere in New York City.  A lot of people always ask me if there is anything else they can plant to spruce up their garden this time of year.  Here are some ideas:

1. New England Aster  

Also known as Michaelmas Daisy, this North American Native is a great alternative to Mums.  They most famously come in purple but their are other cultivars that offer more colors. These are a great perennial so don't be afraid to give it a permanent place in your garden.  

2. Creeping Wintergreen 

Pinch of one their berries and you will know where the taste and smell of every "Wintergreen" gum comes from.  This plant makes a beautiful, evergreen ground cover that offers year-round interest but is quite a compliment to a garden or planter in the fall. 

3. American Beautyberry

The small flowers that start on this shrub in the spring eventually turn into beautiful clusters of purple berries that make for a nice fall display.  Cut the stems off later in the season and put them in a vase or in your holiday plantings.  

4. Autumn Fern

It doesn't take a genius to figure out why this call Autumn Fern.  This plant is native to Eastern Asia but adapts quite well to the climate here in New York and shows off a beautiful display of colors in the fall.  The other upside to this low-maintenance plant is that it is semi-evergreen.  

5.  Bearberry

Also known as Kinnikinick, this is one of my favorite ground covers: an evergreen with hardy foliage thats low-maintenance and provides fall color.  Looks great around boulders, in planters or under your favorite deciduous tree. 

Here are some more photos of a project we did this spring/summer.  We used mainly native and adaptive plants for this modern garden such as Mountain Laurel, Inkberry Holly, an Eastern Redbud tree and a number of native ferns.  We took these photos as we were installing the low-maintenance lawn that will be done entirely out of Pennsylvania Sedge.  Look for final photos of the project soon.

Here is a nice shot of the cedar fence we built. 

We also installed a gravel path around the perimeter of the garden for easy access.

Here is an article I came across today to promote a book called "Rooftop Gardens: The Terraces, Conservatories and Balconies of New York" (although there was only one picture in the article?!?!).  I haven't checked it out yet but will definitely be combing it for some ideas.  Check it out.  

Visiting New York's Exclusive Rooftop Gardens