Now that the hot summer is over, our thoughts turn to football watch parties and other outdoor activities. This season is an excellent time to garden. If you are considering adding plants to your landscape, fall is a good time to do it.
Good for Planning
Now is a good time to look at your landscape and mark any places you don’t have plants but want them. If something didn’t survive the unusually hot and dry summer, you can replace it now with something that will cope better with the higher temperatures. Choosing native plants that are adapted to our area will give you the most bang for your buck. Read more about choosing the best plants for the area in this article.
Good for Roots
Planting in the fall allows the roots to grow and get established before the cold of the winter or the heat of the summer. Since many plants have stopped growing foliage for the year, the new plant will spend all its energy growing its roots. This stabilizes the plant, and bigger roots allow plants to reach deep water and nutrients that plants without such an extensive root system cannot reach.
Less Stressful for Plants
Cooler temperatures are less stressful to plants. Fall rain relieves any drought stress the plants might have. When plants have to use less energy dealing with heat, drought, and trying to survive, they are more able to grow healthy roots and become established.
Fewer Weeds and Pests
Most weeds and pests are winding down for fall, so they won’t be attacking your new plants. Weeds steal nutrients, water, and sunlight from your plants, so planting at a time the weeds are not growing leaves more resources free for your new plants. Pests eat leaves, stems, flowers, and fruit. In the fall, most pests are trying to find a place to overwinter or are dying. Your plant doesn’t have to produce chemicals to repel pests or cope with having parts eaten by them.
Being Outside Is Nicer
Fall is a pleasant time to be outside working in the garden. It is not hot like summer, but the cold hasn’t come yet. Enjoy the temperate weather while it lasts by planting things. Gardening is considered moderate exercise, so planting is good for you.
Post-Planting Care
After you plant your new trees, shrubs, lawn, and perennials, here are some care tips.
Water
Water your new plants every day for the first two weeks. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. After this, perennials and lawns need one inch of water a week. Trees and shrubs should get at least an inch a week under their entire canopy. Before the first frost, water your landscape well, so there is a reservoir of water in the soil when it freezes. You will still need to water occasionally during the winter.
Mulch
Mulch around your new plants to protect them from the cold, hold in moisture, and keep weeds at bay. Spreading three inches of mulch around your new plantings is the best way to keep them warm this winter. Mulch acts like a blanket in cold weather. Mulch also holds moisture so that it is available to the plant longer. Finally, mulch keeps weeds from robbing your new plantings.
Fertilizer
One thing to leave out is fertilizer. Fertilizing your new plants will promote new foliage growth. New growth will freeze in the cold, leaving injuries on your plants that diseases can enter through. Wait until spring to fertilize these plants.
Let Us Help
Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping will be happy to talk with you about the ideal new plants for your landscape. You can schedule a consultation with our garden specialist, Lauryn Pitts, and she can help you plan what to plant. Once you know what you want, our Blue Crew can plant it for you and maintain it all year long. Schedule a consult today.
I want you to meet Henry Thompson, our field supervisor. Henry’s job has several responsibilities. He manages the production of projects, including pre-construction planning and scheduling, as well as material procurement and logistics for the Blue Crew. He checks in regularly with customers and the on-site foreman to ensure the project meets our quality standards for both craftsmanship and customer experience. Communication is our #1 core value, and Henry helps keep everyone on the same page by communicating expectations for both our team and our clients. Henry is also responsible for the continual coaching and development of our field installation and maintenance teams.
A Very Experienced Landscaper
Henry started a landscaping job as a laborer. He quickly worked his way up from laborer to the foreman of his own crew.
In 1996, Henry decided to move into management. He worked his way up to field supervisor. Henry has been working in the landscaping industry for thirty years and has experience with every aspect of construction and landscaping.
Coming to Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping
In a funny coincidence, I worked with Henry as an intern 25 years ago. In 2018, I called Henry after he had been following us on Facebook for years and commented on a post of ours.
When I called him, Henry said, “You are doing a good enough job now for me to work for you.”
“Funny you should mention that. I called to ask you to join the team,” I told him. The rest is history.
Why Landscaping?
Henry started working in landscaping right out of high school. He loves working outside. His favorite thing is turning a yard into an outdoor oasis. Henry likes to bring the countryside to people living in the city so they can enjoy their outdoor living areas and landscape, as he has his whole life as an outdoorsman.
Hometown Boy
Henry was born in Harrisonville, Missouri, and now lives in the small town of Archie, Missouri, about ten miles south of where he was born. He enjoys small-town (about 4,000 people) life and likes knowing everyone in town.
Other Interests
Henry has a passion for spending time outdoors, hunting, and fishing when he isn’t working. Anyone who knows him knows his favorite activity is attending his daughters’ sporting events with his wife Mindy. Their oldest girl, Emma, has started college this year and is concentrating on her academics and classes in accounting. His youngest, Elizabeth, is a freshman in high school and plays basketball and volleyball. She competes in a competitive league outside of school as well. Most weekends during the season, Henry can be found chauffeuring her to meets around the state. He sure is proud of his girls!
See Henry’s Work For Yourself
We appreciate Henry’s talents and are very proud of the work he does at Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping. If you want his help turning your yard into an outdoor oasis, schedule a consult with us today. We will design something that suits your needs and brings a little bit of the country he loves onto your city property.
With football season starting up, we know you will be having watch parties at home. Want to up your game this year? Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping can help you put on a great party in your outdoor living space!
BBQ
What is a party without food? In Kansas City, that means BBQ! The best BBQ is made outdoors on a grill or in a smoker. We build standalone grill stations with room for storage or full kitchens with grills and smokers included. The full kitchen has a roof on it, so if it rains, your food won’t get soggy. You can also use it to make the other dishes for your party without missing the action.
Beer
Good BBQ is best enjoyed with an ice-cold beer. We can put a beer trough in your kitchen where your beer will stay ice cold. Your guests can grab one without having to get in line at the refrigerator! Beer troughs keep other drinks cold, too.
Big Screen TV
What is a watch party without a big screen TV? Nobody wants to have to crowd around a small screen. We build walls that can hold a big screen TV complete with a waterproof covering over it. You can choose from a retractable mounting or a permanently visible one. We often build a fireplace and mount a big screen TV over the mantelpiece.
Audio
A big-screen TV is worthless without a great audio system. We can build a system that includes audio for the TV, radio, and other music. When the big game isn’t on, your guests can rock to whatever tunes you like. We use outdoor audio systems with heavy-duty, concealed cables, so your system will work for years to come.
Comfortable Seating
Nobody wants to sit on hard, uncomfortable seats. For a great party, you need great furnishings. Check out our article on furnishing and staging your outdoor space. Be sure to buy furnishings designed for the outdoors so they last longer.
Shade for Day Games
Sitting in the hot sun gets very uncomfortable very fast. Plan on some shade for your guests to sit under. Don’t rent a tent. We can build you everything from a full roof to a pagoda you can cover with vines for extra shade. We can even build walls or enclose your room with a screen to keep out the cold and insects.
Light for Night Games
You don’t want your guests to stumble around in the dark. That isn’t fun, and someone could hurt themselves. We can install great lighting options so your guests can see, but the light doesn’t overwhelm the TV screen or cause glare. We even have some options you can turn red for game day.
Outdoor Games
Outdoor games are a great way to pass the time while you wait for the game to begin. Games also give kids a way to burn off energy so they will be quiet during the game. Great outdoor games include flag football, corn hole, and bocce ball. Scavenger hunts are fun for all ages, depending on the difficulty of the hunt.
Guests
You can’t have a party without guests. Are you going to have a small, intimate gathering or a large event? Family and close friends or the neighborhood? Plan to have an entrance into your outdoor living area where guests don’t have to go through the house. We can build paths to lead your guests right where they need to be.
We Can Help
Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping is a full-service landscape design, landscape construction, and landscape management company. We can design and install your landscape as well as maintain it for you. Schedule a consult today.
Need your landscape spruced up before a big event? Contact Lauryn Pitts, our garden care specialist, to get on our schedule.
Are you interested in working with plants? There are a wide variety of outdoor fields you can get training in so you can work in both rural and urban settings. Here are a few of the choices:
Landscape architecture
Landscape design
Turf grass specialist
Arborist
Floral designer
Golf course manager
Greenhouse manager
Horticulturalist
Plant pathologist
Specialty crop production manager
Learn to be a part of creating designs like this…
And turning them into stunning garden spaces like this.
Here are some of the state and community colleges in the area you can go to for the education necessary to work with plants outdoors.
You can obtain a bachelor’s degree in horticulture and be ready for a job in management in a range of horticulture careers. You can obtain more specialized degrees such as agribusiness, agricultural economics, agronomy, and more.
Learn to design gardens and other landscapes so they are functional, pleasant to use, and will use the right plant in the right place by getting a bachelor’s degree in either landscape design or landscape architecture.
Get a strong foundation in the science of plants, soils, and water. Classes and practical experience mean you can pursue a number of careers in both rural and urban areas.
You can major in Agronomy: Horticulture and get a bachelor’s degree. This focuses on five core areas: greenhouse management and production; vegetable and fruit production methods; post-harvest technology along with food safety and local production issues; landscape, plants, design, and maintenance; and sustainability in today’s horticulture industry.
You can obtain your Associate of Applied Science in Horticultural Sciences degree in two years and either start work immediately in management or transfer to Kansas State University to get a bachelor’s degree in horticulture.
Metropolitan Community College
You can get a number of degrees and certificates in horticulture at the Metropolitan Community College. These include:
This associate’s degree prepares you to transfer to a four-year college to major in an area of agriculture. This degree takes two years to earn if you attend full-time.
We Can Help
Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping is a full-service landscape architecture and landscape management company. If you are interested in a career in horticulture or landscape design and construction, we are happy to talk to you and help you find the training you need. We hire people for a wide range of positions, so if you are looking for a job, feel free to apply.
Over the years, we at Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping have seen shrubs come, and shrubs go. Our favorites are hardy, last through whatever weather Mother Nature dishes out, and look great. Any of these shrubs would make a great addition to your landscape.
Different Shrubs for Different Reasons
Some of these shrubs are evergreen and give interest all year long. Others on this list have colorful flowers, while some have leaves that turn colors in the fall. They come in many shapes, sizes, textures, and growth habits, giving them their unique personality and purpose in the landscape. All of the shrubs on this list are easy to care for once they are established and fairly low maintenance for your typical homeowner.
Boxwoods
Boxwoods are a staple in the landscaping industry and are the number one selling plant for landscapes. Originally from Europe and Asia, many varieties of these shrubs are available. They are all evergreen and grow into a dense, thick shrubs. Our favorite varieties are Green Velvet and Graham Blandy. Both are very hardy, especially when established. The first winter is the most challenging, so make sure they are watered correctly. As a bonus, they are deer resistant.
Green Velvet
Green velvet boxwoods are low, round shrubs great for small hedges. The dark green leaves hold their color all year. In the spring, light green foliage and white flowers make an appearance. These naturally rounded shrubs can be pruned into any shape you want.
Graham Blandy
Graham Blandy boxwoods are tall, skinny-shaped evergreen shrubs that are great for flanking entryways or for screening air conditioners and meters. They are a wonderful accent shrub in the landscape to create some height in tight spaces.
Fine Line Buckthorn
Fine Line Buckthorn is a great woody shrub for entryways and screening meters or air conditioners or even summer privacy around the pool. It is deciduous, so it will lose its leaves in the fall. However, buckthorns have a light, airy texture and are a little bit softer than boxwood. They are also less maintenance than tall boxwoods. The leaves become yellow in the fall before dropping off for the winter.
Spirea
These super hardy shrubs are great to bring interest to a spot in your landscape. They are rounded and have very nice flowers. Spirea is deciduous, so they will lose their leaves in the fall. Their flowers attract bees and butterflies. Our two favorite varieties are gold swan and gold flame.
Gold Swan
This spirea is a dense, compact shrub that can be trimmed back aggressively. In the spring, we trim it into round bowling balls, which hold their shape all year. Gold Swan has clusters of white flowers in the spring.
Gold Flame
The leaves of gold flame spirea start out bronze tipped in the spring. They turn yellow-green and then turn red in the fall. Clusters of red flowers appear in the summer. Gold flame is a super hardy shrub.
Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bush is a deciduous shrub with long, narrow sage green leaves and lots of flowers. The colorful, cone-shaped flowers bloom in the summer and attract hummingbirds and butterflies in swarms. Butterfly bushes come in many colors, from pinks and purples to dark purple. Our favorite variety is Miss Molly.
Miss Molly
The Miss Molly variety is the closest to red of any butterfly bush. Miss Molly is a fun summer shrub that looks good in any landscape.
Crape Myrtle
Crape myrtles come in various heights, from low dwarf varieties up to even small trees in our climate. In the south, they can grow even bigger, as you see in the image above. In the KC area, they tend to stay under 8’-10’ because of our colder climate. We have been substituting crape myrtles for roses in our landscapes because roses are having some challenges with pests and diseases. Crape myrtles leaf out in late May or June and have bright flowers in pinks, purples, and reds. They shed their thin gray bark, which adds texture and interest to your landscape. Crape myrtles often have multiple trunks. Do not give up on your crape myrtle plants in early spring, as they often don’t come out until late. Water them deep in the fall and protect them in the winter, and they will be a hardy show stopper in your garden.
Ninebark
Ninebark has a nice, rounded form with small white flowers that appear in clusters in the late spring. After the flowers, red capsules appear, which turn brown in the fall and stay all winter. Ninebarks have green leaves with red highlights. The leaves turn yellow in the fall. The bark of the ninebark peels off, showing layers of bark that are reddish to light brown, increasing the shrub’s interest. Our favorite varieties are amber jubilee and coppertina.
Amber Jubilee
The leaves are red to purple when they grow in the spring. In the fall, the leaves turn yellow, orange, purple, or red before falling off for the winter. The flowers are white with yellow centers. Amber Jubilee was named to honor Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee.
Coppertina
Coppertina has copper orange leaves with soft pink flowers. This shrub makes a dramatic specimen or an excellent hedge. Coppertina is drought resistant after it is established. This is a good shrub for problematic areas in the landscape.
