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Mums and More

   Written by on October 6, 2016 at 9:48 am

logo - walk in gardenI think it’s high time that gardeners looked to display something besides chrysanthemums in the fall. Not that mums aren’t lovely and come in every shade of yellow orange and burgundy imaginable, not that they don’t inspire thoughts of football games and pumpkins, not that they aren’t the most popular annual sold in the fall (more about annual vs. perennial mums later); it’s just that there is another plant, a perennial in this case, that is showing up more and more in borders and pots around here in the fall. It’s showy stonecrop, or sedum.

Here in the upper south, we have the perfect climate for sedum. By now, if you’ve been paying attention, you have watched the neighbor’s plants go from green blooms that look almost like broccoli heads to soft pink and mauve, and soon they will fade to the burnished browns of fall.

There are hundreds of varieties of sedum, but they are mostly overlooked during the surge of planting fever in the spring. Homeowners are wrapped up in the instant gratification that comes with all the marigolds and vinca at the nursery.  Looking forward to the fall blooming season, however, and planting sedum will be greatly rewarding because they need little care and will be a big bonus in the garden this time of year.

One of the immediate benefits of sedum is that it fits snugly into the practice of trading cuttings and slips of plants with other gardeners. Gardeners are by nature generous, I believe, and sedum is one of the easiest to share. In the fall, start seeds of the hardy sedum varieties, and then divide in the spring. In early summer, you can root the fleshy leaves or take softwood cuttings to root and give to friends.

The variety “Autumn Joy” grows to a height and width of about two feet and makes an excellent border plant It blooms from late August into November, with showy pink color that fades to copper, perfectly matched with other fall colors. Since it is a perennial, you can count on seasonal color for years to come. Additionally, those lingering butterflies and hummingbirds of summer are attracted to sedum.

If you buy plants from the nursery, remember that sedum prefers moist, fertile soil but can tolerate drier conditions. Select a spot that gets at least six hours of sun every day. Clear the spot of weeds and rocks and loosen the soil. Mix in organic matter before planting. Dig a hole that is the same depth as the nursery container, and plant in groups of four or six, spaced about two feet apart. Water the plants thoroughly and keep moist until the plants are established. An application of mulch around the plants will retain moisture and discourage weeds. There’s not much pruning required, but if you wish to have shorter plants for some reason you can prune the tips before blooming; this will, however, delay the showy flowers. Sedum, particularly the Autumn Joy, may need staking to hold the stems upright. Unfortunately, deer, snails, and slugs think sedum is yummy, so be prepared to fight for your plants.

Companion plants for sedum include another fall-colored plant, black-eyed susan and the shorter fountain grasses that are becoming more popular.

Back to those annual chrysanthemums. What you will most likely find at garden centers this time of year are annuals; you can tell pretty much by the price. If you are merely seeking to add color to the front steps for the fall or brighten up a tired garden these are perfect. If, on the other hand, you wish to add these fragrant plants to a perennial bed, consult with the nursery to determine which chrysanthemums are indeed perennial. It can be very disappointing and discouraging to go to all the trouble of digging holes and planting and watering and then have nothing to show for your labors next fall.

Measure twice, cut once…ask first, enjoy for years to come.

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