Fall is here! Perfect time for planting!

Fall is here! Perfect time for planting! October weather is a perfect time for landscaping and exterior maintenance.  It’s the time to transplant existing plants and add new plants to your gardens. The frequent rains we’ve been getting make it easy to get the plants rooted in before the cold weather gets here.

There are several local nurseries in the area, including Cofer’s Home and Garden Center, Outdoor Specialities, Picadilly Farm, and many others. Check out this site for Athens Clarke County for ideas on drought tolerant plants/ hyro-zoning and native plants for Georgia.

The local nurseries are great but be sure to check out Lowe’s and Home Depot for your basic plants.  And, the local farmers markets also have good options.

Because of our increasing deer population, be sure to check for deer resistant plants. Some plants that they definitely love are hostas, hydrangeas, fig, blueberry plants… these are from personal experience! They don’t seem to care about ferns, Russian sage, begonias, geraniums and ornamental grasses, but that could change if they get hungry enough! We have a fenced back yard and the deer will jump the fence to get a small hosta I recently transplanted.

Coming up with a plan can be hard if you don’t have design experience. There are several options to consider, including checking the internet for landscape designs or hiring a local designer. Having a good plan makes the payoff that much better. I’ve seen the results of not having a plan and just picking out plants I like. Sometimes, it can work out but usually it will look a lot better if you have a professional design. Pike’s Nursery is not in Athens, but the Lake Oconee store will probably send someone to work up a plan for you. If they do the installation, I believe they either give a discount or offer the plan for free.