Perennial Sources of Color

Autumn weather makes it easier to work in the home landscape, and there are plenty of colorful plants to add. Most additions will be annuals which bloom in the next few months.

There is also a perennial that will deliver showy flowers when the weather warms. Bareroot or potted daylilies can be planted in the autumn.

Daylilies grow best in full sun or filtered shade. The darker-colored red and purple varieties flourish better in partial shade, while yellows, pinks and pastels need full sun to bring out their best colors.

The filtered light level under pine trees is ideal for growing daylilies. Heavy shade should be avoided because it will cause thin, spindly growth and poor flowering.

The soil pH should be between 6.2 and 6.8, with 6.5 being optimal.

The soil of daylily beds should be topped with three to four inches of organic matter, such as peat, compost or well-rotted manure. The amended soil should be mixed or tilled, leveled and then moistened.

Daylilies survive dry conditions well because of their extensive root systems. However, the number and size of blooms, plant growth and overall vigor can be adversely affected by prolonged drought. Planting now gives them a chance to develop their roots before blooming and warm weather begins.

Daylilies can multiply rapidly, so proper spacing is important. Leave 18 to 24 inches between plants. When larger clumps develop in a few years, plant division is easy.

Dig up the entire clump and shake or wash off the soil without damaging the roots. It is easy to see where divisions can be made by pulling smaller clumps free for new plantings.

Repairing Bald Spots

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Annual ryegrass can be used to temporarily “repair” spots in the lawn where turfgrass is missing. It is readily available, inexpensive and grows well in the area.

It is important to purchase a turf-type annual ryegrass which should be mowed to two to three inches in height during its cool season growing height. Forage-type annual ryegrasses will not produce satisfactory results when used on a home lawn.

For best results, break up the soil’s surface and sow the seed as per instructions on the bag. Depending on weather conditions, the seed will germinate and emerge in two weeks to a month.

In most cases, fertilizing is not necessary. There are likely enough soil nutrient residuals remaining from warm season applications.

Mowing can begin 30 days after the ryegrass emerges. This gives the roots time to become well established.

Annual ryegrass will gradually die as the temperature rises in the spring.

Volunteer Mushrooms

Photo by iStock / Getty Images Plus: serikbaib

While most weeds are going dormant or dying, there may be mushrooms popping up randomly and populating lawns. For many, the native mushrooms are the easiest fungi to identify. Technically not plants, fungi do not contain chlorophyll, and there are other differences. What is commonly identified as a mushroom is, in reality, only part of the fungus.

The section protruding out for all to see is known as the fruiting body. The fruiting body is the section that produces the spores for the next generation of mushrooms. This portion is the final stage of the mushroom’s life cycle and may take only a few hours to complete. Spores are usually distributed by the wind, water or insects when they reach maturity. Only a small percentage find an ideal location for growth and development.

Most local mushrooms are a white to brown earth tone in color, depending on the species and the stage of life. A few produce bright colors, which are influenced by the growing medium. Control can be accomplished in two ways. First, collect the fruiting bodies of mushrooms as they appear. Use rubber gloves or a shovel, being careful not to touch them as some are toxic. Bag and remove from the site. Do not compost as the spores may germinate. Second, remove any woody debris remaining below the surface of the lawn (roots, stumps, etc.) Mushroom spores use the nutrients in decaying wood to flourish.