DENVER — If your garden is drab and boring right now, fix it. Either add new plants now or vow to plant them next season.
Recommended plants include Sedum 'Autumn Joy,' Hollyhock 'Majorette,' montbretia, Japanese anemone, Aster 'Dream of Beauty,' and Rudbeckia hirta.
Sedum 'Autumn Joy' is easy and dependable. It never fails. The flowers turn from pink to brick red and bees love them.
Hollyhocks are tall and don't bloom until their second season. The 'Majorette' hybrids bloom their first year and are much shorter and display double flowers in luscious colors.
Montbretia is closely related to the popular Crocosmia 'Lucifer.' the grassy plants grow from small corms and have pretty star-shaped flowers in orange, yellow or red. They aren't hardy, so dig them in fall after the foliage has frosted or save the whole pot in a cool, dark room.
Japanese anemones display simple pink flowers in fall. They are very dependable and long-lived.
Aster 'Dream of Beauty' is a selection of a species native to Nebraska. It features masses of pink flowers on short stems. It's very tough and drought tolerant.
Rudbeckia hirta is a prairie wildflower with big, striking yellow flowers. There are many varieties, including the popular 'Denver Daisy,' that bloom prolifically through the fall if kept deadheaded and watered. it's great for patio pots.
More Proctor's Garden:
> Top stories curated daily just for you! Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER to get can’t-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Mile High Mornings
MORE WAYS TO GET 9NEWS
Subscribe to our daily 9NEWSLETTER
Download the 9NEWS APP
iTunes: http://on9news.tv/itunes
Google Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n
HOW TO ADD THE 9NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.