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Bring Autumn Color into your Outdoor Space with Trees and Shrubs

Autumn in Naperville!   Fall is the season to enjoy nature’s spectacular show of color and texture.  Trees and shrubs display leaves of every shape and color, and the autumn color palette brightens our days as we prepare for winter.   Why not introduce landscaping materials in your outdoor space that showcase the autumn colors?  Brilliant golds, reds and purples replace the greens of summer for one last explosion of color before winter arrives.  Best of all, many of the trees and shrubs with great colors thrive in our northern Illinois climate.  And, plant them once for many years of enjoyment.

Color isn’t the only benefit to planting trees and shrubs.  For spaces large and small, you can find plant material that gives color interest, protection from the wind, winter interest, and even attracts birds.  A well-planned home landscape will highlight the best features of your home and property, offers a warm welcome to family and friends, and continues to improve as the seasons come and go.

Take a walk in your neighborhood or forest preserve for inspiration.  Of course, it’s not easy to identify the names of trees and shrubs, so here are some to consider:

  • Large oaks or Norway maples are majestic shade providers in summer and light up your yard with color in the fall.
  • Delicate Japanese maples are valuable specimen trees whose red, lacy leaves attract lots of attention.
  • The ancient ginkgo has a neat shape and its distinctive leaf turns bright yellow before dropping late in autumn.
  • For a smaller area, burning bushes signal the season when their leaves turn red.  Barberry and chokeberry offer texture, berries and color.
  • The branches of the red twig dogwood will stay attractive all winter.

Some people like a single-color theme when planting.  Some like complementary colors, and some prefer a natural-looking mix of many colors.  Try complementing fall or winter outdoor decorating with seasonal color choices.  Of course, you’ll also want to include some evergreens to keep some color in the yard during the winter months.

As professional landscape designers we specialize in choosing materials that thrive in our area, and can work with you to install and maintain trees and shrubs to showcase your outdoor space in all seasons.

ARE YOU READY FOR FALL?

We hate to see summer go, but, let’s face it, summer 2012 in the Midwest was so hot and dry that we cannot wait for some cool fall weather!  The drought and heat may leave you wondering how to do your fall outdoor clean-up routine this year.  What’s the best way to prepare your stressed-out lawn, shrubs and trees for winter and help them thrive next summer?

LAWNS

Many lawns around Naperville have brown patches that may have homeowners worried.  Healthy lawns that have gone dormant will bounce back after a drought.  Postpone fertilizing until the fall weather and rains arrive, however, to avoid stress.  Lawn de-thatching is helpful to protect against future drought conditions.  Autumn is also an ideal time to overseed and aerate your lawn.

Be sure to rake leaves from the lawn.  They can form heavy, wet layers on top of the lawn and perennials, suffocating the plants or spreading disease.

PLANTS

It’s a good idea to remove vegetable and annual flower plants.  They may contain potentially damaging spores and diseases which can harm those you plant next year.  Remove damaged or diseased parts of plants like roses and peonies.  Perennials such as sedum, purple coneflower and others containing seeds or berries are fine to leave as is.  Birds will love them, and they add winter interest to the garden, especially after a snowfall.  Apply a layer of compost or mulch to surround perennials.  Don’t cover them, though.  Of course, fall is the time to plant spring bulbs.  Remove bulbs that won’t survive the winter and store for next spring.

TREES

Trees benefit from a good layer of mulch, providing nutrients while retaining water and facilitating drainage.   Take a look at your trees to note any sign of distress and have them evaluated if you spot a problem.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE COLOR

Take advantage of our beautiful autumn weather by planting hardy asters, mums, and shrubs.  Fall is also a great time to plant trees to enjoy this year and for years to come.

If this sounds like a lot of work, give us a call! We offer a fall clean-up service and can help you choose seasonally appropriate trees, shrubs and other plant material.  We will help you recover from this year’s stressful summer so you can enjoy your outdoor space for years to come.