The leaves have fallen, and most plants are going dormant for the year. We’re now in the thick of fall, winter is fast approaching, and you may be thinking landscaping is done for the season. But, you don’t have to wait until spring to spruce up your flora and fauna!
Here are seven trees to plant this fall:
Buckeye
The buckeye tree is a great option for those who love a flowering plant. The buckeye flowers in early spring and produces the well known “buckeye” nut, termed so because it resembles a deer’s eye. However, don’t be fooled by these nuts that also resemble the tasty peanut butter-chocolate dessert! Buckeye nuts are not edible. However, they can be used to plant more buckeye trees. If you do wish to plant more buckeyes from your own seeds, you can expect to collect the nuts once they’ve naturally fallen from your tree, typically in September and October.
Eastern White Pine
If you’re looking for a Christmas tree you can plant in your yard after the holidays, this evergreen might be the one for you. This conifer is one of, if not the largest pine in the United States. At maturity, they can be over 75 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide, so this is a tree for which you want to ensure you have enough space. Make sure the root ball is intact, so this beauty can be planted in your yard (weather permitting) once the Christmas décor has been taken down.
Pawpaw
The pawpaw is part of a mainly-tropical family of plants, so it may come as a surprise to know it is native to the eastern United States! It’s the largest edible fruit native to the U.S., so you’re in for a treat if you own one of these fruit-bearing trees. Pawpaws are not large trees and range from 15 to 30 feet in height, while their trunks average 6-12 inches in width. These trees produce flowers in the early spring before giving way to green leaves, yield ripened fruit (tasting similar to other tropical fruits like mangos and papayas) in late summer through September and October, and have leaves that turn yellow in the fall. Note that more than one pawpaw plant is necessary to produce fruit through cross-pollination.
Persimmon
While most flowering trees shine in spring and summer, this native Tennessean is a true beauty this time of year. The American persimmon tree has leaves that turn a vibrant red-orange in the fall, and it produces a beautiful orange fruit (Go Vols, am I right?) in the fall and winter. Like the pawpaw, these trees need to be planted in pairs, as a male tree and a female tree are necessary in order to yield fruit. Patience is also key with this tree, as it may take several years for them to produce fruit once planted. But, who knows? Perhaps you’ll get lucky with some that produce their little, orange fruit sooner rather than later!
Redbud
If you’re looking for a beautiful pop of color without the size of some other trees, the redbud might be the tree for your landscape. It’s a native tree with rosy pink flowers that appear in April before giving way to reddish-purple leaves that turn green in the summer and then yellow in the autumn. The flowers are also replaced by legumes that ripen in October and can remain on the tree through winter. The seeds from these legumes are typically spread by wind and birds. Redbud trees typically grow 20 feet in height and can have a spread of branches as wide as they are tall, so they can be a great addition to nearly any yard.
Sycamore
This Tennessee native is known as the largest growing tree in the east, and it provides plenty of shade as such. These giants can grow over 70 feet tall and several feet in diameter, so be sure you have plenty of room before planting one. Sycamores are also known for their scaly, grayish bark that reveals a smooth, white underlayer. Their branches yield large, green leaves that turn a yellow-brown color in autumn, hence why they’re exceptional shade trees. Sycamores are hardy and can endure pollution and extreme weather conditions, so they’d fare well and make quite the statement in any yard large enough to house them.
Serviceberry
Known by many names – juneberry, sugarplum, shadbush, etc. – the serviceberry is a large shrub or small tree loved by many, especially the birds. This plant produces fragrant, white flowers in early spring that make way for the berries wildlife enjoy so much. Their berries start small, round and green, but eventually turn red and then purplish-black as they ripen in summer. The serviceberry’s leaves appear in spring as a regular green color, but will turn yellow, orange or red in the fall. The plant averages 15-25 feet tall, depending on how it’s pruned. These plants also tolerate pollution well, so they fare well in urban settings like Nashville.
Autumn is an ideal time to plant trees, especially since the middle Tennessee weather tends to be on the warmer (and often more unpredictable) side. Don’t believe me? Check out our post on five reasons why fall is the best season for planting! Be sure to plant your trees with plenty of time for them to establish roots before winter sets in, so you can ensure your landscaping will look its best once spring comes around.
Have more questions, or need help finding the perfect tree for your yard? Give us a call, or visit our garden center in Nashville!
The Nashville Scene has announced its Best of Nashville Award Winners, and Gardens of Babylon won first place for best lawn service and second place for best nursery/garden center.
Here’s what the Scene had to say about Nashville’s best:
“For three-and-a-half decades, we here at the Nashville Scene have done our best to share with our readers what makes Music City special. That’s the aim every week, of course, but most of all in our whopping annual Best of Nashville issue — and this year’s issue is among our most extensive ever.
Ahead of the Scene’s 35th annual Best of Nashville issue, tens of thousands of Nashvillians cast hundreds of thousands of votes for the best restaurants, artists, businesses, services, performers, athletes and institutions in the city. Our team of staff and contributing writers also convened to select hundreds of our favorites from those categories and more. Want to know who our readers voted Best DJ? Best Place to Hear Live Music? Best Burger? Best Dentist? Best Hair Salon? How about what our team of writers picked as 2023’s Best Album? Best New Restaurant? Best Advocates? Best Late-Night Bar? In this week’s issue, you’ll find all that and much, much more.
Read on and celebrate the Best of Nashville — all the things that have made 2023 a home run.”
At Gardens of Babylon we truly believe life is better when we prioritize our outdoor spaces, so we can get the most out of our yards, landscapes and gardens. We also know cultivating spaces that are practical, usable and beautiful can be daunting. It’s why we do what we do – so our community can be greener and feel more confident in how they show up for themselves and their environment. That’s why we provide landscaping services (design, maintenance, outdoor lighting and audio, hardscapes and irrigation) and also have our garden center (shop plants, seek expert advice, get local delivery, and attend workshops and classes) in downtown Nashville. Don’t just take our word for it, though! Check out a few reviews from our customers:
“Gardens of Babylon has gone above and beyond to help me design and accomplish my backyard dreams. Not only do I love to visit their physical location at the Nashville Farmers market, I love to speak with their well educated and caring staff. Each employee I’ve met under Gardens of Babylon has been kind, insightful, generous and so much more. This company shines in ways a lot of landscapers miss. Through customer service, attention to detail and truly caring about the goals at the end of the day. This is not a company after profit, this is a company looking to better the Nashville community. I’m so thankful to have found this wonderful supplier.” – Nicole M.
“We had an excellent experience with Gardens of Babylon. We hired them to transform our backyard with a sport court, playground with turf, BBQ area, planters for a raised garden, and new landscaping. Vincent worked with us every step of the way from design to implementing every detail. He was responsive, knowledgeable, professional, and detail-oriented. From ensuring the right court size for our space to recommending what to put in the garden and teaching me how to maintain it, Vincent seemed truly invested in making it a great experience. I highly recommend Vincent and Gardens of Babylon for any project.” – Autumn Z.
“As a houseplant enthusiast, I’ve heard legends of this place, and it was even better than I’ve heard!! So many rare plants all in one place, definitely more expensive than some other places but it’s clearly worth the money for the convenience! Their staff was helpful and friendly, while giving us plenty of space to browse on our own. They have such a wide selection of all plant care needs, indoors and out. I also loved the living wall, and they had a great selection of unique pots!” – Jess H.
Looking to renew your own connection with nature? We’d love to help you along the way and show you just why we were voted one of Nashville’s best! Book a consultation with us for your landscaping and maintenance needs, or visit us at our garden center at the Nashville farmers’ market.
The Nashville Scene has announced its Best of Nashville Award Winners, and Gardens of Babylon won first place for best lawn service and second place for best nursery/garden center.
Here’s what the Scene had to say about Nashville’s best:
“For three-and-a-half decades, we here at the Nashville Scene have done our best to share with our readers what makes Music City special. That’s the aim every week, of course, but most of all in our whopping annual Best of Nashville issue — and this year’s issue is among our most extensive ever.
Ahead of the Scene’s 35th annual Best of Nashville issue, tens of thousands of Nashvillians cast hundreds of thousands of votes for the best restaurants, artists, businesses, services, performers, athletes and institutions in the city. Our team of staff and contributing writers also convened to select hundreds of our favorites from those categories and more. Want to know who our readers voted Best DJ? Best Place to Hear Live Music? Best Burger? Best Dentist? Best Hair Salon? How about what our team of writers picked as 2023’s Best Album? Best New Restaurant? Best Advocates? Best Late-Night Bar? In this week’s issue, you’ll find all that and much, much more.
Read on and celebrate the Best of Nashville — all the things that have made 2023 a home run.”
At Gardens of Babylon we truly believe life is better when we prioritize our outdoor spaces, so we can get the most out of our yards, landscapes and gardens. We also know cultivating spaces that are practical, usable and beautiful can be daunting. It’s why we do what we do – so our community can be greener and feel more confident in how they show up for themselves and their environment. That’s why we provide landscaping services (design, maintenance, outdoor lighting and audio, hardscapes and irrigation) and also have our garden center (shop plants, seek expert advice, get local delivery, and attend workshops and classes) in downtown Nashville. Don’t just take our word for it, though! Check out a few reviews from our customers:
“Gardens of Babylon has gone above and beyond to help me design and accomplish my backyard dreams. Not only do I love to visit their physical location at the Nashville Farmers market, I love to speak with their well educated and caring staff. Each employee I’ve met under Gardens of Babylon has been kind, insightful, generous and so much more. This company shines in ways a lot of landscapers miss. Through customer service, attention to detail and truly caring about the goals at the end of the day. This is not a company after profit, this is a company looking to better the Nashville community. I’m so thankful to have found this wonderful supplier.” – Nicole M.
“We had an excellent experience with Gardens of Babylon. We hired them to transform our backyard with a sport court, playground with turf, BBQ area, planters for a raised garden, and new landscaping. Vincent worked with us every step of the way from design to implementing every detail. He was responsive, knowledgeable, professional, and detail-oriented. From ensuring the right court size for our space to recommending what to put in the garden and teaching me how to maintain it, Vincent seemed truly invested in making it a great experience. I highly recommend Vincent and Gardens of Babylon for any project.” – Autumn Z.
“As a houseplant enthusiast, I’ve heard legends of this place, and it was even better than I’ve heard!! So many rare plants all in one place, definitely more expensive than some other places but it’s clearly worth the money for the convenience! Their staff was helpful and friendly, while giving us plenty of space to browse on our own. They have such a wide selection of all plant care needs, indoors and out. I also loved the living wall, and they had a great selection of unique pots!” – Jess H.
Looking to renew your own connection with nature? We’d love to help you along the way and show you just why we were voted one of Nashville’s best! Book a consultation with us for your landscaping and maintenance needs, or visit us at our garden center at the Nashville farmers’ market.
Summer has come and gone, fall is here, and winter is on its way. You might be thinking your gardening duties are over for the year, but that isn’t quite true. Preparing your garden for winter now is actually one of the best ways to care for and prepare your garden for the spring. Here are seven things to do in order to prepare your garden and landscaping for winter.
Clean up your garden.
If you’ve read any of our recent blog posts, then you know how much we’ve been preaching the importance of cleaning up your garden beds. Harvest the last of your produce, clean out diseased plants, pull the weeds out by the root, deadhead flowering plants, and clear out any additional debris. Cleaning out your garden now leads to fewer weeds and other pests bothering your garden once the weather warms up next year. (There are some helpful insects that live in yard debris throughout the winter. So, you don’t necessarily have to clean out your entire yard. You can consider leaving debris in less important or less trafficked areas of your gardens or yard to help out these helpful critters.)
Test your soil.
If you have the time and resources, you can test your soil before hunkering down for winter. Once you know what your soil needs, you can amend accordingly.
Nourish your garden beds.
Once you’ve gathered up the last of your fall produce, and maybe even tested your soil, you can cover your garden beds with compost, organic fertilizer, mulch, or shredded leaves. You can also plant a cover crop, like crimson clover or alfalfa, in your garden bed in the fall after you’ve cleaned up your garden. Either way, these methods will help the health of your soil, add nutrients back into it, and prevent erosion and washing out.
Prune shrubs and perennials.
Fall and winter are great seasons to prune certain plants. Be careful to do your research and check which of your plants can be pruned this season, as some perennials – like blueberries and raspberries – are best pruned in the spring. Now is also prime time for pruning and trimming rose bushes. Be careful not to prune too much this fall, as exposing too much of your plant can lead to pests and disease. As always, do your research for each plant!
Wrap certain shrubs and trees.
Some plants just need a warm hug to keep them going through the winter. As temperatures drop, wrap younger and more delicate shrubs and trees (certain fruit trees, like figs) with plastic, paper or burlap to keep them safe through the colder months. You can also cover tropical plants, as they can’t handle the cooler temperatures. Here in middle Tennessee we rarely experience much snow. However, if you do experience snowfall this year, be sure to gently knock it off branches to protect your plants from breakage.
Clean up gardening equipment.
You’ve harvested the last of your garden and cleaned up all your landscaping, so now is the time to show your outdoor tools and equipment some TLC. Clean up and sharpen your gardening tools, and clean up and store your hoses for next year.
Start dreaming!
With the garden tucked in and ready for winter’s embrace, it’s the perfect time to let your imagination wander. Picture the blooms, the veggies, and all the vibrant colors you’d love to see come spring. And if you ever feel the need for some garden inspo or advice, remember, we’re just a chat away. Let this winter be the canvas for your garden dreams, and come spring, we’ll help turn those dreams into blossoms.
Have more questions, or need help further preparing your yard for winter? Give us a call, or visit our garden center in Nashville!
Travel writers and amateurs alike might rave every autumn about the foliage in New England, but you don’t need to drive hundreds of miles to enjoy fall hues. There are so many places to enjoy fall foliage across the state. You can simply walk through your local park or take a short drive to do what people call “leaf peeping.” Here’s the rundown on some of the prime Autumn viewing spots in Middle Tennessee and surrounding areas this October.
Natchez Trace State Parkway
If you want to see the foliage from the comfort of your car, then taking a cruise down this parkway might be the perfect option for you. The entire parkway stretches over 400 miles from Nashville, TN, to Natchez, Mississippi. You can also hop out of the car and enjoy the great outdoors. Stop at Pin Oak Lake and rent kayaks or canoes, or simply sit and enjoy the fall colors.
Fall Creek Falls State Park
Encompassing nearly 30,000 acres, this state park is a gem on the Cumberland Plateau. You can view acres and acres of autumn leaves this fall, and you can also enjoy the waterfall! As the park’s name would imply, there is Fall Creek Falls – one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern U.S., as well as Piney Falls, Cane Creek Falls and Cane Creek Cascades.
Explore your local park or take a stroll through your neighborhood!
Depending on where you live, there’s a good chance there are plenty of trees and shrubs changing colors in your area. If you live in Nashville, you can probably take a sidewalk and stroll through your neighborhood and into a nearby park. All you’ll need is a good pair of walking shoes!
If you want to venture a little further…
If you’re willing to go the extra mile, you can travel to east Tennessee and enjoy the beautiful views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can drive through different parts of the park, like Cades Cove and the Foothills Parkway, or you can hop out and take any of the hundreds of miles of trails to look at the leaves changing this season.
If you love to spend time at home as much as we do, then you’ll be happy to know you can bring the fall colors to your own front door. Here are some practical tips to incorporate fall foliage into your landscaping:
Start with your native plants. The volunteer state has many beautiful native plants to offer, and several of them provide colors throughout the spring, summer and fall. If you don’t already have native plants in your yard, then autumn is actually a great time to plant them before the ground freezes and as plants prepare to go dormant for the winter.
Trees are a great place to start, since they are the source of most fall foliage we admire each year! Sycamores are a personal favorite of mine with their large leaves that turn a golden hue in October – just make sure you have enough space for these forest giants. Need more suggestions? Check out our blog all about native trees you can plant in your yard this fall.
Plant perennials to bring back color every year. While you might not see beautiful blooms this October, fall is actually a great time to introduce new plants to your outdoor spaces. Coneflowers, asters, daylilies and so many more can be planted before the first frost and then enjoyed next year.
Use containers to your advantage. Even if you have little or no yard, you can still bring autumn colors to your outdoor spaces with potted plants. Mums are obviously a fall go-to, but you can also utilize so many other plants. If you need some inspiration, check out this blog on fall containers for front porch color. Should you prefer our team to handle the design and execution of the space, we stand ready to assist.
Gourds galore! If you love a traditional fall porch decoration, then we know you’ll love pumpkins and other gourds for your decor. Pumpkins and winter squash come in all shapes, sizes and colors, so you can likely find a variety that will match your style. If you have a garden, then you can even grow your own pumpkins and squashes in late summer in order to adorn your porch, back patio and the inside of your house in the fall.
Autumn is a beautiful time of year, especially here in middle Tennessee. It’s finally cool enough to enjoy the outdoors all day long, which means you can really run with the suggestions above and get planting! Have more questions, or need help finding the perfect plants for your yard? Give us a call, or visit our garden center in Nashville!
Some of my fondest memories from growing up include being outside and helping my dad in the garden. My parents always had a vegetable and fruit garden in the summers. My dad grew up on a farm and doesn’t sit still, so it’s quite natural for him to be working outside even after he gets home from his regular job.
I remember the first time I was given my own little patch in the yard to do with whatever I wanted. My dad and I bought scalloped landscape edging stones, formed them into a circle, and I planted whatever flowers I wanted there. It’s still one of my favorite memories, and I think about it nearly every time I visit home.
Now that summer is just around the corner, you might be looking for similar ways to get your children outside and in the garden. Whether or not your child is already into the outdoors, we have some tips to help you cultivate a green thumb for your little ones.
Let them take ownership.
I helped out often with gardening and yard maintenance growing up, but I didn’t always enjoy it. However, it changed for me when I was able to pick out some of the things we planted!
Even if it isn’t a flower, vegetable or other plant that you’d normally pick out, I suggest just going for it! Your kids will likely feel more empowered and inspired when you trust them to pick out their plants. And, you can do like my parents did, and give them a small patch of yard or a small container to plant in.
Show them how to start seeds.
Spring is the perfect time to start certain seeds, and kids will likely get a kick out of watching the tiny seeds burst through soil as they create stems, leaves and then blooms.
It’s like science class but in the comfort of your home! They can take even more pride in knowing they planted, watered and took care of the plant all the way from a seed to whatever fruit, vegetable or flower blooms.
Buy them their own gardening gear.
I thought it was the coolest thing when I was a small child that we owned a small shovel and hoe that were me-sized! It made gardening more fun because I could dig things myself, rather than having to wait for my dad to do it.
Now, buying gardening supplies doesn’t have to be expensive. Even if you give them hand-me-down gardening aprons or hats, it’ll be fun for them to have their own gear specifically for gardening. Plus, you can pick up small gardening tools at most stores once summer rolls around.
Make watering plants into play time.
Having a kid-sized watering pail is fun, but you can increase the good times by making watering time into play time! I worked at a daycare for a couple summers during college, and sprinkler days were always the kids’ favorite.
So, if you have a sprinkler, you can get that out for kids to run through while also watering your garden and other plants. Don’t have a sprinkler but do have a watering hose? This can be just as fun! You and your kids can put on your swimwear and take turns watering plants and spraying each other. I’ve found it’s almost always more fun when the adults get involved.
Bring the garden inside.
If you don’t have the outdoor space to plant a garden, you can bring it indoors! Let kids pick out potted varieties of different vegetables, fruits or herbs, or even pick out some flower seeds that do well in containers.
This is also a great time to teach kids (and maybe even yourself!) about potted-variety plants, different sunlight and moisture needs, and even how to repot a plant once it’s too big for its original container. Plus, it’ll be easier for the children in your life to watch their garden change and grow throughout the season.
Getting kids involved in everyday activities doesn’t have to be a battle, especially as you prepare for school to end and summer vacation to begin. Gardening can get them outdoors and interested in the world around them! If you need help picking out plants for your children, stop by our garden center and let our team help you out.
Recent Comments