Annuals quickly provide more color in the landscape for longer periods of time than any other garden plants. They are versatile, sturdy and inexpensive. Fall is a great time to plant winter-blooming annuals because the still-warm soil will stimulate faster root growth, helping the plants to get established sooner.

While there aren't quite as many winter blooming varieties as in the summer, there are still plenty of flowers that prefer the cool season to perform their best. Most sun annuals need at least 4 to 6 hours of sun per day, while shade annuals prefer just morning shade and can tolerate full shade as long as there is some filtered light.

Among sun-loving varieties consider alyssum, calendula, dianthus, Iceland poppy, ornamental cabbage and kale, pansies, phlox, snapdragon, stock, sweet pea and violas. For shadier locations, you can count on cyclamen, English primrose, fairy primrose (primula) and primrose to perform their best.

Most annuals will perform better in flower beds that have been turned over and been amended with an organic soil conditioner, such as Soil Building Compost and a starter fertilizer, like Dr. Earth Starter Fertilizer. This helps ensure not only water retention but also good drainage. Avoid planting in areas where water stands after a heavy rain.

We have a great selection of fall and winter blooming annuals just waiting to light up every corner of your garden. When the dreary days of winter get you down, you can count on annuals to cheer you up and make your day!

Is your garden a visual eyesore? Is it filled with hot, glaring colors that don't really complement each other? Perhaps it's time to add a little blue to your garden. Blue flowering plants add serenity to a garden and can even make a hot garden feel a bit cooler. The relaxing shades of blue flowering plants can be enjoyed throughout the season and blend well with other cool colors such as purples, pinks and white.

For starters create a backdrop of taller shrubs such as blue hibiscus, caryopteris, plumbago or perhaps a blue clematis vine against a fence. Now layer in some perennials such as agapanthus, agastache, aster, delphinium, blue geranium, platycodon or rosemary. Finally, add some low growing growing spreaders such as lithodora, phlox, or isotoma.

Do you have shaded areas? No problem. You can create the same effect with a background of hydrangea (feed them with aluminum sulfate each year to keep them blue). Then layer in liatris, ligularia, or polemonium and add some ajuga or isotoma (which tolerates sun or shade) for a groundcover.

Don't just limit your planting to the ground. Many blue-flowering plants look great in containers for patios and decks, or in hanging baskets. You can even create a blend of annuals, perennials, and ornamental grasses to make any pot, urn, window box or decorative planter look fantastic all season long.

Many blue flowering perennials such as caryopteris, delphinium, penstemon, salvia, scabiosa and veronica are also wonderful at attracting butterflies and birds, particularly hummingbirds. But most of all they will provide a wonderful relaxing contrast to a brightly-colored garden. So what are you waiting for? Come on down and pick up some blue flowering plants for your garden today!

With our days getting cooler, many trees are beginning to show their spectacular fall color. Autumn is a great time to plant trees because the ground is still warm enough to promote root growth without the stress of summer heat watering requirements. Plus, a tree planted in fall will be able to take advantage of winter and spring rains and be fully established by next summer, enabling you to benefit from the cooling effect its provided by its shade.

When planting your tree, consider how it might provide the maximum shade effect for your home. A shade tree planted on the east side of your home will block the heat from the morning sun. Planting on the west and/or southwest side of your home shields the hot afternoon sun. And finally, a tree planted on the south side of your home can provide year-round sunblock protection. All three examples will help to keep your home cooler in the summertime.

If you select a deciduous tree, you will benefit in the winter from the opposite sun shielding effect. Minus the foliage, the sun's rays can shine through the empty branches and help you warm the inside of your home. You certainly can't argue with that!

Along with the energy benefits, shade trees provide beauty to your landscape year-round. They offer habitats to birds, squirrels and other backyard urban creatures. Trees increase the value of our homes and the beauty of our neighborhoods. They also give back oxygen to our environment. If you choose a deciduous tree, pick one with majestic winter form.

When you plant your shade tree, do not plant it too close to your home, patio or walls. Remember, many of the best shade trees grow to heights of 30-50 feet and taller, which means they will also have a good spread and substantial root systems. So come on in, and our staff of nursery experts will help you pick out the perfect shade tree(s) for your home. Then get ready to enjoy their fall foliage and the pleasing shade they will provide for many summers to come!

Need a little flair in your garden? Want to add some sizzle? Consider adding some red-flowering plants to your landscape. Red is a powerful and passionate color that can be enjoyed throughout the season and blends well with other perennials, ornamental grasses, shrubs, evergreens, groundcovers and trees.

Too much red can quickly overwhelm a small space, but in a larger outdoor garden setting, red flowers can be combined with orange and yellow, blue, purple and white to provide a striking contrast.

For starters you can use taller shrubs or perennials such as buddleia, red canna, flowering quince, peony, roses or weigela to create a backdrop for shorter plants. you can also use a red clematis vine or climbing rose to hide a fence. Now layer in some perennials such as calycanthus, daylily, dianthus, geranium, nemesia, or red spirea. Finally, add some low growing spreaders such as armeria, calibrachoa, english daisy, sedum or verbena.

Do you have shaded areas? No problem. You can create the same effect with a background of abutilon, camellia or rhododendron. Then layer in some astilbe, azalea or heuchera to give your borders some definition.

Don't just limit your planting to garden beds. Many red flowering plants look great in containers for patios and decks or even in hanging baskets. You can create a blend of annuals, perennials, and ornamental grasses to make any pot, urn, window box or decorative planter look fantastic all season long.

Many red flowering perennials such as achillea, monarda, penstemon, and Salvia grahamii, are also wonderful at attracting butterflies and birds, particularly hummingbirds. But most of all they will spice up a garden and make it come alive with color. So what are you waiting for? Come on down and pick up some red flowering plants for your garden today.

It's that time of year that so many of us look forward to. Next to Christmas, Halloween and the Fall Harvest Season is the most popular time of year, and at Plant Depot, we want to celebrate it with you!

We offer pumpkins and gourds in addition to other fall décor to help turn any home into a fall harvest paradise. Plant Depot is the perfect place to shop for all of your Halloween and fall decorating needs. Hurry in while supplies last!

We will be returning to Standard Time on November 4th. Remember to set your clocks back one hour Sunday the 4th, at 2 am. Or set them early and enjoy that extra hour of sleep!

Smoke detector batteries should be changed yearly; the change to Standard Time is also a great time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Properly functioning smoke detectors save thousands of lives every year.