How To Keep Your Landscape Looking Lush This Fall In California

Thankfully, we don’t experience chilly falls and drastic winters here in California. Still, our plants can take a hit once the hot days of summer come to an end.

As it turns out, fall is the best time of the year to plant due to its prime growing season. If you want to develop a landscape design to improve your yard, now is the time. Here are some of our favorite plantings.

Easy Plants To Add In The Fall

Want color 12 months out of the year? Nothing beats Euryops pectinatus, a bright yellow flowering evergreen shrub. It needs a warm, sunny spot with three to four feet of space to grow. When other plants go dormant, it will still be in bloom.

Cercis occidentalis (Western Redbud) is another great small tree that provides interest year round. It blooms with magenta flowers in the spring before displaying bright blue-green foliage in the summer. In the fall and winter, bare branches still shine with beautiful patterns. After two years of watering, the Western Redbud does best in a dry location.

For ground cover, we love Scaevola. Also called Mauve Clusters or Blue Fan Flower, this species’ tight growth and low mounding habit keeps the weeds out. It has rich, small evergreen leaves that display tiny purple flowers January through November.

Want something that will spread cheer come the holidays? Hollies come in an array of varieties as ground covers, shrubs and even trees. Most are evergreen, and you’ll love those bright red berries for decorating at Christmastime.

For winter flower color, Camellia comes in an array of colors and sizes. During the summer, make sure to give them some afternoon shade.

Looking for a landscape professional? Find a contractor in your area.

Other Ways To Enliven Your Yard

In cooler months, flowering plants will be a literal breath of fresh air. But if you want to get outside and enjoy them, consider innovative ways to stay warm year round.

Portable spas are perfect for relaxing and entertaining. They can be incorporated in a multi-level deck with built-in planters for a verdant oasis.

Another way to add some family fun? Add a fire pit. Work with a landscape contractor to develop a custom design, or purchase an inexpensive model to start at a home outlet store.

HomeAdvisor is a Patch promotional partner.