Thread: Green thumbs: suggestions for Halloween-compatible plants?

Tweet

TK421 may have mentioned that we are re-doing our front yard. We liked to boardwalk he made for the haunt so much that we're putting in a brick path where it was.

We'll also be removing some grass, and putting in some low maintenance ground cover.

My question is: does anyone have any suggestions for plants that will look good with the yard haunt?

I would like some that carpet the ground, maybe some with flowers for spring/summer, but I definitely want it all to look good when it's surrounded by skeletons and tombstones.

We live in Western Washington, so it's wet 3/4 of the year, and warm and dry for the summer.

And yes, we have a pumpkin patch! I'm always a little sad that all of the leaves and vines die before Halloween. Any suggestions for plants that will grow well next to pumpkins and keep that nice green a little longer?

Thanks for your help!

A very hardy plant that works well is these grassy type plants-

Ornamental Grass Plants, Ornamental Grass Plant Nursery

It softens hard landscape in the summer months, but goes dry in the fall. It doesn't die back though. The grass just browns over and holds it's shape. This makes for excellent halloween display when you put some things around it and provide good lighting. It's a low maintenance and a hardy grower. You'll likely have to break it up after a few years and each spring, you trim the dead grass back and it springs up even bigger for the summer. Looks great at night at halloween time.

Dan

Thanks Dan! That's a good suggestion.

Try alysim...I think thats how you spell it. It grows great in Washington. I have a lot growing and it is good stuff and seems to do well in our climat. It does need water in the dry months so sprinklers or a hole near by is a must. Ivy is good. also I have some clematis on fences. it will be out of bloom by October, but very viny and creepy looking when fall comes.

i was going to suggest the grasses too. I lived in Maine, and found that after my Iris blossoms went, the long leaves were great for the cemetery. I also had Dragons Blood, a red leaved ground cover. It blooms with small pinkish flowers in summer but looked great with the october garden

Plus, you cant beat that name for a halloween plant.

Ooooo! Dragon's blood! Neat!

Not sure of the planting zone requirements for WA, but you could try to start a Creeping Fig for ground cover in or around your pumpkin patch and yard. You can train it to spread or to go vertical. It's all over the place here in the south - where we are also experience long wet/hot/humid/sauna- wet/muggy seasons and short cool/dry seasons. I also think it's frost tolerant, but I won't swear to it. Plants pretty much bloom all year round down here unless they get hard ground frost, so you'll have to research when Creeping Fig will bloom around your October needs.

I think the alysum is very pretty, and it comes in lots of colors.

Here's a small tree named corkscrew hazel. I think it makes a great Halloween Addition.

Google Image Result for http://www.panoramio.com/photos/original/13645538.jpg

I suggest you Google image "corkscrew Hazel" You'll love it when the leaves fall.

Wow! Awesome suggestions. That corkscrew hazel is amazing!