Suggested annuals for winter color Besides the dozens of varieties of Pansies of all colors, try Calendulas, Lobelia, Snapdragons, Stock & Dianthus. Dusty Miller does not flower, but makes a nice silver-gray color contrast when used with other plants. Cyclamen is one of the most showy plants and comes in several colors, but it is rather expensive and perhaps, depending on your budget, should be limited to use in special areas. Geraniums and Petunias also do well in the winter monthsbut make sure you protect them from any “freezing” weather. Then there's also the ornamental cole crops such as Cabbage, Kale and Swiss Chard. Another unusal thing to try is the neat looking 'Purple Majesty' Millet.

To fertilize or not? If you are going to fertilize this fall, do it now. Make sure not to use a fertilizer with a high Nitrogen number. Ideally you will want a fertilizer with a lower Nitrogen (N) and a higher Potassium (K) numbers such as a 5-10-15 or a 10-0-20. The three numbers on a fertilizer bag are the N-P-K. You want as much (K) Potassium this time of year as you can get as it will help toughen up your lawn's root system for any winter weather. Be wary that not all so called 'winterizer' fertilizers have a lower N and may induce brown patch when applied to your yard.

Go easy on pruning Be careful not to trim or prune shrubbery too late in the season as it may induce new growth during warmer days that can get burnt back by any freezing weather that follows (if we ever get any).



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