🌼 Transitioning Your Yard from Summer to Fall

As summer heat finally starts to ease (a little!) here in South Louisiana, it’s the perfect time to give your landscape a fresh look for fall. While our “cool season” arrives later than in most places, making a few simple updates now will keep your yard colorful, healthy, and thriving well into the winter months.

🌞 Refresh and Remove Summer Annuals

By late October, many summer favorites—like vinca, zinnias, and petunias—start to fade. Pull up any tired, leggy plants and clean out your garden beds. Removing old growth not only makes space for new blooms but also helps prevent pests and disease from lingering into next season.

Tip: Leave the roots of healthy plants in the soil for a few days before replanting. It helps retain beneficial microbes in your garden beds.

🌿 Prep Your Soil

Fall is the best time to revitalize your soil after the long, hot summer. Mix in compost, peat moss, or a slow-release fertilizer to give your new plants a strong start.

Pro Tip: South Louisiana’s heavy clay or sandy soils benefit from organic matter—this improves drainage and helps roots establish before cooler temps arrive.

🌸 Add Cool-Weather Color

Once your beds are prepped, it’s time for the fun part—planting! Cooler-weather annuals thrive here from late October through early spring. Some reliable performers include:

• 🌼 Pansies – Bright, cheerful, and long-blooming.

• 🌸 Violas – Smaller than pansies but even tougher.

• 🌺 Snapdragons – Add height and structure to flower beds.

• 🌾 Ornamental cabbage and kale – Great for texture and color contrast.

• 🌼 Dusty miller – Silvery foliage pairs beautifully with bold blooms.

Design tip: Mix heights and textures—snapdragons in the back, pansies and violas up front—for layered, full-looking beds.

🍂 Add Mulch and Maintain

Finish with a 2- to 3-inch layer of fresh mulch. This keeps moisture in, suppresses weeds, and protects roots when temps drop. Water newly planted flowers well for the first few weeks, then adjust as cooler weather sets in.

🌻 Think Ahead to Spring

Planting in fall isn’t just about short-term color—it’s a great time to install shrubs, trees, and perennials. They’ll spend the mild winter months establishing roots and will burst with growth once spring arrives.