Florida Garden Checklist
Texas Garden Checklist

Fall Shrubs
The purple fruit of American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) brightens days as fall nears. Later, the leaves turn yellow. After the foliage has dropped, use the fruit-laden stems for bright autumn arrangements. Other great shrubs include winged euonymus (Euonymus alatus) with red foliage; oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) in hues of red to crimson; 'Henry's Garnet' Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet') with purplish-red leaves; and 'Mount Airy' large fothergilla (Fothergilla major 'Mount Airy') in shades of yellow, orange, and scarlet. Plant as specimens, or use en masse for a bold show. Fall is an excellent time to add shrubs to your yard. The cool days ahead allow plants to establish roots and transition into your landscape before next year's growing season. Water well after planting, and mulch with pine straw or chopped leaves.

• Houseplants--If you are looking for some easy houseplants for areas with low to medium light, you have lots of choices. Chinese evergreens, pothos, dracaenas, arrowhead vines, sansevierias, and philodendrons need minimal light. All of these plants offer attractive foliage with little care.
• Flowers--Plant old-fashioned mums such as 'Sheffield Pink' and 'Single Apricot Korean' toward the front of your flowerbed. For more information read "The South's Best Mums" on page 54 of the September 2004 issue of Southern Living. Use asters such as 'Purple Dome,' 'September Ruby,' and 'Harrington's Pink' along with Japanese anemones such as 'Honorine Jobert,' 'Queen Charlotte,' and 'September Charm' for the middle and back of the border. Swamp sunflowers (Helianthus angustifolius) should be placed in the very back of the border. When planting, place them at the same depth they were in the containers. Water well.
• Vegetables--Sow the seeds of turnips, mustard greens, radishes, collards, spinach, and beets at this time in the Middle and Lower South. Set out transplants of collards, lettuce, broccoli, and cabbage.
• Cool-season lawns--Now is an excellent time to establish grasses such as fescue, perennial ryegrass, and bluegrass. If you are sowing the seeds for a new lawn, use a lower-nitrogen, higher-phosphorus fertilizer such as 18-24-10. If you have an established lawn, go with a higher-nitrogen formula such as 30-2-4.
• Autumn equinox--September 22 marks the end of summer and the beginning of fall. Now is the time to set out this season's annuals, groom flowerbeds, buy bulbs, and plant trees and shrubs. But, most importantly, just be sure to get outside and enjoy your garden in the cooler weather.