Episode 142: Fall Natives

If autumn is one of your favorite times of the year, you probably feel a natural urge every September 1st to start decking the halls for fall. It's always a good idea to put extra thought into your new purchases so you can make wise decisions on your decor investments. So before you add the velvet plush pumpkins or salted caramel candles to your cart, take a minute to hear what these designers have to say. Here, they share half a dozen fall trends that they recommend skipping.

Fall brings out my desire to “bring the outdoors in.” Collecting berries, seedpods, and dried flowers is a passion I share with many gardeners. Using these to display in the house helps us to remember the beautiful days of summer. Harvesting these things gives a feeling of satisfaction of what we, as gardeners, have grown over the season. But there are a surprising number of fabulous fall plants that we don’t usually see growing here in the Pacific Northwest. One shrub that I rarely see in gardens here is winterberry (Ilex verticillata and cvs., Zones 3–9).

The centerpiece of a traditional American landscape has long been a verdant, weed-free expanse of lawn. But all too often conventional lawn care is achieved by applying an onslaught of synthetic fungicides and fertilizers that are detrimental to soil health. In my mind, an organically maintained lawn uses a mix of turfgrass species and clover and has the added benefit of supporting pollinators and a host of soil-dwelling organisms.

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Fall Garden Border with ‘Nicholas’ Dahlia Autumn doesn't mean color has to call it quits in your garden! Use mums, dahlias, sedum, salvia and switchgrass to make a splash when temperatures start to cool off. Grow flowers that pop with fall color

Easy-Care Fall Garden Planting Ideas Adding perennials and cool-season annuals can bring a whole new look to your fall garden borders! Grow a fabulous fall garden with these easy-care planting ideas

We’re nearing our 150th episode mark and for us, that has meant a lot of plants discussed. But it’s also meant a lot of great guest appearances. As you know, each episode we ask an expert from the field of horticulture to lend us their brains and weigh-in on some great plant choices for the topic at hand. We’ve had guests who made us laugh, think twice about a much-maligned perennial, or even come to realize that there are far better options out there for our gardens. Who was our funniest guest? The one that made us seriously reconsider our planting choices? Or the one who made us grip the steering wheel with white knuckles (yes—that did actually happen)? Tune in now to find out and listen to our favorite guest segments.

If you love the concept of fall decor but just aren't into all things pumpkin- and ghost-related, we've got you covered with an assortment of chic, contemporary home accents that are sure to appeal to your elevated taste.

As the nights begin to draw in and summer's heat fades fast, we may spend less time in our gardens and mourn the departure of the sun. But for me, fall is absolutely my favorite time of the year. Though the days are shortening rapidly and the summer garden may be fading fast, there is a lot to love about a garden in this season. 

If your summer containers and patio pots are looking tired and spent, you may want to consider giving them a refreshing fall makeover. Even if your porch is on the small side, you can still add a little something to make it feel more welcoming for autumn.