Gardening and Fall Planting for October

By C. Grayson

Fall planting must begin in earnest now. The finer perennials that are planted this month will provide strong root growth and give early spring flowers.

Delphiniums and Campanulas are very striking and even though they grow for only one season from two-year plants, they are worth the trouble and expense

Columbines (Aquilegias), on the other hand, increase and multiply year after year. The long-spurred types are especially good. In shaded spots along the Azalea beds, where there is moisture fog breath-taking beauty, colonize Virginia Cowslips (Mertensia virginica). The plants die down after the bloom is over and never need cultivation so with Azalea: is an ideal place to use them.

Native plants, Trilliums of all kinds, blue Lobelias, Forget-me-nots, Potentillas Creeping Ranunculus, both single and double, also need shade and moisture for their development. These Forget-me-nots, Potentillas and Ranunculus make fine ground covers and add beauty to wide areas where grass will not grow.

Aster Star of Warburg is one of the finest of the early perennials and come into flower along with all the Dianthus, Carnations and Anthemis. Plant these and Sweet Williams now.

Bugle (Ajuga reptans) lend strong blue color notes to the spring flower theme. Tradescantia, the old fashioned Spider wort, now comes in hybrids of white and rose, mauve and purples with azure and sapphire blues. They grow into large clumps which bloom continuously for months. Give them room.

Coral Bells (Heucheras) are hardy and permanent. The low growing clumps of leaves are evergreen and increase from year to year. Planted in masses, the delicate flowers stand well above the foliage and are particularly attractive in the pal pink of Heuchera brizoides, the coral red of 'Pluie de Fen', the fine pink of 'Rosamundi', the pure white of 'Perry White' and the rich red of 'Sanguinea'. All of these are good rockery plants.

Anchusas of the taller types make strong, heavy clumps and the low growing Myosotidiflora is a charming edging or low growing mass. Veronicas also give blue shades and are needed with the gold of Anthemis and the everblooming Hemeroeallis hybrids. Order your perennial for planting now.

Violets are essential for color and fragrance. 'Royal Robe' and 'Purple Giant' are two fine new ones. These Violets in this southern climate increase so rapidly a few plants will be all that are needed. Do not plant them near Azaleas because Violets are hosts of red spiders which infest these plants during the summer months. Also keep them away from Boxwoods.

Annual seeds must be sown at once. Cornflowers and Larkspurs, California Poppies, in all colors available, double and single, should be planted as early as possible. Use Larkspurs and Cornflowers for background planting, giving them much room and full sun. Other annuals to be seeded are Chinese Forget-me-nots, (Cynoglossum), Candytufts, Godetias, Clarkias, Lupines and Calendulas with annual Pinks.

Virginian Stocks, Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila insignis), Baby Snapdragons (Linarias), and Babysbreath are especially good for edging and masses of pastel tints. These fill in wherever low masses of soft color can be used. In the fall, these seeds were scattered over a rock garden so new and raw that the small perennials did not hide the rocks. Those baby annuals simply covered them with foliage and in March, April, May and June made an exquisite symphony that pleased all who saw them. Do not fail to plant these seeds now. They are so inexpensive and so easily grown that they can be used very freely.

Phlox drummondi in separate colors is another "must have" for spring flowering. Seeds are scarce but if you had them last year they will need no replanting. Just keep the off colors rooted out and the masses will come true year after year.

Roses now blooming in practical munificence-Teas, Hybrid Teas, Australians, Floribundas, and Polyanthas with the everblooming Climbers equally beautiful-make glorious displays. There are also Chrysanthemums of many kinds, Dahlias, Asters, late summer annuals, Lobelias in rich scarlet with the fragrance of Tea Olives, Loquats and Oleasters drifting on each passing breeze. Vines of Clematis paniculata are clouds of white flowers and the rosy racemes of the Antigonons, contrast with the fine large blooms of the velvety, deep blue Brazilian Morning Glories. The soft lavender and mauve of the Argentine Morning Glories adds another note to the garden theme.

Surely October is a wonderfully interesting and beautiful month.