Every year thousands travel to experience the golden fall foliage of the New England countryside.
Now, enjoy the painted leaf landscape in your own yard by planting consistently vibrant trees. The trees below deliver the most spectacular shades of scarlet, fiery orange or rich yellow, are easy to care for and maintain a unique look each season.
Here are the top 10 trees to plant for show-stopping fall color. Plus, here are some insider tips on planting trees from the certified arborists at The Davey Tree Expert Company.
- Maple is the quintessential tree for fall color. Maple trees demand attention with bright apricot leaves that contrast with burnt orange. Maples come in a variety of sizes, so they work in any landscape.
- Sweetgum is a fast-growing tree with glorious, red leaves that pop in autumn. Sweetgum trees have glossy, star-shaped leaves that stay longer on the tree—allowing you to bask in the dynamic colors into late fall.
- Sweet Birch turns brassy yellow in the fall. Sweet birch trees offer copious amounts of shade in the summer, fend off the bronze birch borer better than any other birch, and have a sugary sap that can be used to brew homemade birch soda.
- Katsura welcomes autumn with a spicy-sweet smell and tangerine color. The katsura tree grows in a pyramid like shape with an extraordinarily straight trunk and heart-shaped leaves.
- Ginkgo trees showcase a lustrous yellow on their fan-shaped leaves every fall. With the ability to grow up to 80 feet tall, ginkgos fiercely resist insects, disease and pollution.
- Smokebush transforms into a crimson red after a summer sprinkled with yellow flowers. Smokebush is a shrub that can be pruned into a small tree with the help of a certified arborist.
- Witch hazel is a small tree with big yellow color. Witch hazel offers the full package, complete with fragrance, flowers, and glowing color in every season.
- Red-Twig dogwood features ruby red leaves and then unveils red stems. This dogwood blossoms with clusters of white flowers that mature into plum-colored fruit to attract birds in spring.
- Sassafras trees repel mosquitoes and dazzle with pumpkin-colored leaves of various shapes. Sassafras smells heavily of licorice, which makes it a delightful treat for wildlife.
- Redbud has goldenrod leaves in the fall and delicate pink flowers in the spring. The redbud tree is a small tree with a rounded crown and a forked, light-colored trunk.
How to Plant New Trees and Shrubs
In many parts of the country, planting trees and shrubs in early fall gives plants a head start at establishing roots in the season's cool, moist soil—and allows you to revel in their autumn hues.
- Dig a hole (twice the diameter and to a depth of two inches less than the full height of the root ball).
- Position the shrub in the hole (make sure the top of the root ball remains at, not below, ground level).
- Fill in with soil and water to settle soil.
- Add more soil to top of root ball (don't pack soil down with foot).
- Cover the planting hole with one to two inches of shredded hardwood or leaf mulch. But don’t over mulch the tree or “volcano” mulch. Keep the mulch two to three inches away from the trunk or the trunk will rot.
Always talk to a certified arborist. Contact your local Davey professional with any tree service concerns as you plant your landscape this fall.
Fall is the best time of the year for growing, sustaining and perfecting your lawn. September was made for growing grass. It's a great time to start a new lawn or improve upon your existing lawn. Cooling temperatures, moisture and many other conditions all conspire and come together to make soil ideal for seeding. With a little work, fertilizer and seed, your lawn will be among the healthiest in the neighborhood.
Fertilizing for The Coming Season
Fertilization should be carried out right after Labor Day and again around the end of October to November. A slow-release fertilizer low in nitrogen and high in phosphates is the desired formula for this time of year. Shaded areas should get half of that compared to non-shaded areas. If you need help choosing the correct formula, your local garden associate at your favorite home improvement store should be able to point you in the right direction.
Mowing the Lawn One More Time
You should continue mowing your lawn throughout September. While some argue that you should cut your lawn shorter at the end of the season, this is usually only true for areas that receive snowfall. In areas with little if any snowfall, grass that is slightly taller will absorb more nutrients and moisture in preparation for winter. Adding up to an inch to your lawn’s height is plenty and should not be exceeded.
As long as your lawn is not completely blanketed in leaves the last time you mow, go over the leaves with your lawn mower vs. raking, It may take a couple of passes, but the finely chopped leaves will help retain moisture and return nutrients to the soil.
Loosen Heavy Clay Soil
Adding gypsum will go a long way in loosening heavy clay soil found so abundantly here in Georgia. It creates a bonding that helps tiny clay particles group together forming larger particles which results in a more porous soil. This increases air flow and water movement. Applying 60 lbs per 1,000 square feet should be plenty to get the job done. If the upcoming autumn season is anything like summer with all the rain, be careful not to over aerate the soil as it will cause it to become more compact.
The One Tip Often Skipped or Forgotten
Lime application is often the forgotten step in creating a healthy lawn. Sure, we all know our lawns need fertilizer, weed-n-feed and water, but what about the state of the soil. Soil is the very foundation for which everything is "built" upon. It is both the catalyst for growth and stabilizer for creating suitable soil.
What is Lime?
Lime is basically calcium and magnesium. Yes, it is the very same chemicals removed from hard water. The components of lime facilitate the uptake of nutrients and the growth of healthy microbes, and are almost like little pathways or the arteries to each grass seedling providing the very nutrients needed for proper and healthy growth. It also has a double purpose of removing dangerous toxins like aluminum and manganese, Commonly, it is found in a powder or as pellets in most stores like Home Depot. Both lime powder and pellets work equally fine and only vary depending on your method of application.
What Lime Isn't?
Lime is not a fertilizer, pesticide or insecticide. It isn't mulch, compost or anything similar in nature and is in no relation to the fruit.
When Do I Apply Lime?
Regardless of the situation, check the pH of your soil. Georgia clay soil is already slightly acidic. With the proper maintenance can become the ideal soil for a beautiful lawn. Oddly enough, the reason is our own doings. In most cases, the very things we add in the spring and summer for that beautiful green lawn are actually changing the composition of your soil structure.
The only time to apply lime is in the fall and early winter when temperatures are colder. Some people will tell you it is okay in the spring, but several independent university studies have shown this damages the soil. Therefore, the conciseness is that application in warm and hot periods will cause damage to your lawn. The key thing is to apply when it is cool, but not so cold that the ground is frozen and make sure there is no impending rain within the next 24 hour forecast. This is very important in preventing any runoff.
Never apply lime more than once a year. This will cause irrefutable damage. Even if the pH level is not completely on target after application, your lawn should be okay for the next season and you should be able to close the gap in the next seasons.
If your lawn is already healthy, you only need to apply lime every three years. However, check the pH level first to make sure it is needed. Unused lime can be stored indefinitely and used in the following years. There is no need to discard unused lime.
Why should I start now?
There are a lot of things we as humans do to our lawns during the spring and summer months, i.e., application of fertilizer, which actually alter the pH level – eventually getting to the point that nothing grows.
How Do I Apply Lime?
This varies based in the consistency of the lime. If using pellets, a spreader should work well and the lime should leach into the soil naturally for the best results. When using fine power, aerate the lawn first and then spread the power evenly for the best application.
The main goal is to get the lime into the top soil and slight dusting over the top. This encourages microbe growth, but the deeper into the top soil, the better the application. Avoid contaminating any flower beds. Different gardens have different pH levels depending on their requirements for optimal growth.
Once applied, check the pH level, if it is still somewhat low and acidic. This is not the end of the world. Do not apply more lime. You will need to add more lime during fall of the next season.
The Final Results
An attractive lawn has nothing to do with luck. It is all about a lot of planning and hard work. The end goal is to make the soil porous, nutrient rich and sweeter with a balanced pH of around 7. Once you have reached this lucky number, you are all set to replenish your existing lawn or start anew. A beautiful lawn really makes a front or backyard. For other ideas and tips, check out Factory Direct Remodeling of Atlanta.
Replacing Older Windows is One of the Top 3 Remodeling Projects
With all the problems with pollution, freak storms, warming trends and increasing utility cost, you cannot afford not to choose LowE vinyl windows in new construction projects or even remodeling projects. With the savings in heating and cooling bills and tax incentives, you really cannot afford to not replace old outdated aluminum and/or single-pane windows.
To start with, vinyl windows completely eliminate drafts, damper sound coming from the inside or outside, offer zero heat transfer in both the hottest and coldest months. If this isn’t enough, maintenance is almost non-existent. Double-Hung, Single-Hung and Casement models allow easy access for cleaning both the inside and outside. All models are available in standard colors and custom colors. This means the units never require painting inside or out.
How is all this possible?
First, the frame is completely insulated in foam, comes with dual weather stripping and contains thermal and sound barriers via a multi-chambered sash and frame. In addition, LowE insulated glass with an argon gas barrier reflects heat to the outside in the summer and to the inside in the winter. There is absolutely no transfer of heat between the two panes, multi-chambered sash, and argon gas barrier. This same technology prevents penetration of moisture from rain and humidity.
How can there be so little maintenance?
Lower sashes and tilting or swing action depending upon the model allow for easy cleaning. Fusion-welded frames and sashes never chip, peel, crack or warp. Sloped contours repel water to the exterior and away from the window frame. Special shielding also prevents derogation from constant UV and direct sun light’s damaging effects, i.e., fading. The coating and protective features don’t stop there. They are also resistant to pollution, salt spray and dirt.
How about security?
These windows provide maximum security and strength with interlocks and double locks at sash meeting rails, vent locks and title latches. They are also built to withstand extreme storm conditions and wind loads. Now that intruders and mother nature are kept in check. What about other security measures? The frames and sashes are completely impervious to insects.
Vinyl windows are also available in every style, size, shape, multiple types of glass, decorative bevels and even customized grid patterns to perfectly compliment your home. This includes bay, bow, arched, casement, picture and a variety of other window styles. Every window includes a limited warranty for years of enjoyment.
If you still are not convinced vinyl windows are the right direction, you need only open your next utility bill. These windows are surefire way to lower your cooling and heating costs and actually appreciate the value of your home. Vinyl windows from Factory Direct Remodeling of Atlanta are also made in the USA – meaning fast, convenient and reliable repairs. All materials are green and recyclable and meet Energy Start, AAMA and NFRC certification requirements.
