Some advice on autumn gardening

Lifestyles

October 18, 2010

By Carol Burdett Chronicle contributor The Crossville Chronicle Mon Oct 18, 2010, 02:19 PM CDT

CROSSVILLE — If there are new azaleas in your imagination, it would be good to lean toward the varieties that start with the word “Autumn” as in 'Autumn Amethyst,' 'Carnation,' 'Cheer,' 'Lilac,' 'Royalty,' 'Ruby,' 'Sangria,' 'Sundance,' 'Sunset' and 'Twist.' Nine others are hardy to zone 6B. They include 'Autumn Bravo,' 'Carnival,' 'Debutante,' 'Embers,' 'Empress,' 'Monarch,' 'Princess,' 'Rouge' and 'Sweetheart.'

According to a 2009 USDA study, 11 of these Encore cultivars are resistant to lace bug, an insect that often plagues azaleas. The study was conducted at the USDA-ARS Research Laboratory in Poplarville, Mississippi. Lace bug resistant cultivars include 'Autumn Amethyst,' 'Cheer,' 'Twist,' 'Royalty,' 'Rouge' and 'Sangria.' Cultivars showing moderate resistance include 'Autumn Bravo,' 'Embers,' 'Princess,' 'Ruby' and 'Starlight.'

For best results in most of Tennessee, Encore azaleas should be planted in the spring and summer to help ensure winter hardiness. And here I am giving fall advice. Well, if you must plant right now, above are the varieties recommended by The University of Tennessee. As with all azaleas, they perform best in an acidic and well-drained soil that is high in organic matter.

The world of hydrangeas has exploded over the last five to 10 years starting with the big boom created by Endless Summer®. Now, there are four in the Endless Summer® line of hydrangeas that will flower on new growth. The latest is H. arborescens Bella Anna™. Bella Anna is a pink form of the ever-popular 'Annabelle' type hydrangea. The first pink H. arborescens, Invincibelle™ Spirit, hit the market just two years ago. Bella Anna™ is said to have stronger stems. Hydrangea paniculata Mystical Flame® is said to be smaller than most other H. paniculata cultivars. It has the typical white flowers of this species, but the flowers are said to fade to a burgundy-red. If it is like all other paniculata cultivars with supposed pink or red tint, the red will not develop as intensely in the heat of the South.

I do love blueberries for their taste as well as their growth and leaf appeal. The leaves last well into fall giving great color and promise. A new variety is 'Pink Lemonade' which features a fruit that ripens in mid-to-late season to a deep pink color, and the fresh fruit sampled at the trade show was very sweet. It matures to 5 feet tall and wide. 'Pink Lemonade' is self-pollinating although like most fruits, it does best if planted in the neighborhood of other blueberry cousins.

Fall, of course, brings us the opportunity of harvesting those wonderful little fertilizer factories otherwise known as leaves. Shredding them with your mower and simply piling them out of the way will result in wonderful spring compost, ready to spread as attractive mulch or to mix into your garden to improve tilth and aid in breaking up otherwise hard soil to provide a better medium for root growth.

It has been a very dry summer; no new news there. However, in the fall we seldom give thought to how much our shrubs and perennials have suffered. Shrubs and trees are now looking perky and healthy and we sometimes forget that their roots are still suffering for lack of moisture. It will be well worth our time to give them a good drink before winding up our hoses for the winter.

•••

Plateau Gardening is written by Master Gardeners for those tending home landscapes and gardens in Tennessee’s Upper Cumberland Region. UT Extension Cumberland County at P.O. Box 483, Crossville, TN 38557 (484-6743) has answers for horticulture questions, free publications and details on how to become a Master Gardener. Send email comments or yard and garden inquiries to Master Gardener Rae, mgardenerrae@frontiernet.net.

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