Birds bring color, movement, and music to the garden. From the flash of a goldfinch to the cheerful call of a chickadee, these feathered visitors make outdoor spaces feel alive. By offering the right seeds, choosing the best feeders, and planting bird-friendly landscapes, you can turn your yard into a welcoming retreat for Virginia’s birds year-round.
Autumn offers one of the very best windows for planting, and it’s especially ideal for shrubs that anchor your landscape. The cooler temperatures and steady rainfall of fall give new plants the chance to establish strong root systems before winter, ensuring healthier, more resilient growth in spring. Shrubs not only add structure and definition to your garden beds, but many also bring seasonal color, texture, and wildlife appeal. If you’re ready to enhance your outdoor spaces with lasting beauty, here are our top 7 shrubs to plant this fall:
As the summer heat begins to fade, fall offers gardeners a fresh opportunity to bring vibrant color and texture back into their landscapes. Now it’s the perfect season to refresh garden beds, containers, and porches with plants that thrive this time of year.
When fall arrives, one plant takes center stage: mums! With their bold colors, long-lasting blooms, and versatility, mums are the perfect way to dress up your porch and welcome the season. If you’re aiming for a classic autumn look, or even something a little more creative, mums can be styled in endless ways to make your entryway stand out.
Here’s how to create stunning fall mum arrangements for your porch:
Mulch is more than just a finishing touch for your garden beds, it’s the secret to happier plants, fewer weeds, and a polished, professional look. But with so many types of mulch out there, how do you know which one is the perfect match for your landscape? At McDonald Garden Center, we like to think of ourselves as the Mulch Matchmaker helping you pair your garden beds with the mulch that suits them best.
