Fall into Seasonal Planting – Autumn color now and planning ahead for a blooming spring!

As the long, hot days of summer fade, fall brings an opportunity to refresh landscapes with vibrant seasonal color while also preparing for a beautiful spring in your yard. 

“In Southwest Louisiana, our warm climate and mild winters typically allow for a wide variety of plants that thrive when set in the soil during the cooler months,” says Richie Everage, design/build manager with Landscape Management. “Whether you’re looking for instant autumn impact or long-term spring blooms, thoughtful planting this fall will reward you with color across two seasons.”

Adding Fall Color Now

When cooler nights arrive, your landscape can transform with flowers and foliage that add vibrant seasonal color through the winter. Everage says some of the best choices for Southwest Louisiana include:

• Mums – These classic fall bloomers come in bold shades of orange, yellow, burgundy and purple. They thrive in full sun and add instant curb appeal in beds, borders or containers.

• Pansies and Violas – Hardy, cheerful blooms that withstand cool nights, pansies and violas offer months of color in containers or garden beds.

• Snapdragons – With their tall spikes of brightly colored blooms, these add vibrant color and thrive in the cooler weather while blooming beautifully through the season.

• Marigolds – Golden yellow, orange and rust hues thrive in fall beds and borders; they love warmer winter climates. 

• Ornamental Kale and Cabbage – With their ruffled, colorful leaves, these plants provide dramatic texture and thrive in cooler temperatures. They continue to look fresh well into winter.

• Ornamental Grasses – Varieties like purple fountain grass or muhly grass provide height and movement with showy seed heads that glow in fall light.

• Encore Azaleas – They rebloom in fall, giving bursts of pink, red or white when other plants fade.

• Allysum – Fall is the best time for blooms in white, pink and purple as SWLA’s intense heat and humidity winds down.

• Knock Out Roses – Low-maintenance roses, such as drift roses, bloom repeatedly through the fall.

• Dianthus – Flowers are most notable for their variety of pink shades and are known for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies.

Everage says these selections not only deliver rich autumn tones but also hold up well through unpredictable fall and winter weather in Southwest Louisiana. “You can keep mixing annuals for instant color with perennials and shrubs that provide longer-term structure and blooms,” he adds. “Mulching and consistent watering will help plants adjust to cooler nights while still taking advantage of warm soil.”

Planting in Fall for a Blooming Spring

Fall is one of the best times to plant for future growth in your landscape, according to Everage. “The soil is still warm, encouraging strong root development, while the cooler air reduces stress on young plants.” For a stunning spring landscape, Everage says to consider these options as part of your autumn planting:

• Azaleas and Camellias – These Southern favorites benefit from fall planting, giving them time to establish roots before their spectacular spring bloom season.

• Trees – Planting trees in the fall gives roots time to establish in the relatively mild SWLA winter months, setting the stage for strong growth in spring. 

– Hardy varieties like live oak, bald cypress, red maple and crape myrtle thrive when planted in autumn, ensuring healthier, more resilient trees once warmer weather returns.

– Fruit trees, including apple, pear, peach and citrus trees perform well when planted in fall, setting the stage for healthy growth in the spring.

• Shrubs and Perennials – Fall is the perfect time to plant hardy shrubs like hydrangeas or perennials like daylilies. They’ll settle in over winter and reward you with growth and blooms in spring.

• Bulbs – Paperwhites, daffodils and hyacinths may not be the first flowers you think of in Louisiana, but many varieties thrive here when planted in fall. Select bulbs suited for the mild winters for best results.

• Wildflowers – Scattering seeds of native wildflowers like bluebonnets, black-eyed Susans or coreopsis in fall allows them to germinate naturally and burst into color in spring.

When planting, Everage says to keep the region’s unique climate in mind, including warm days, occasional cold snaps and high humidity. Choose well-draining soil, add mulch to protect roots and water consistently during establishment. “By planting a mix of seasonal favorites and long-term perennials this fall, you’ll enjoy a landscape that offers both immediate beauty and the promise of a colorful spring.”

Landscape Management’s nursery at 5005 Cobra Road in Lake Charles offers all the plants and supplies needed for fall planting. Call (337) 478-3836 or visit landscapemanagement.org.