The Fall Perennial Martha Stewart Loves Planting To Repel Deer And Squirrels

Mums are the quintessential fall flower. Along with pumpkins and a few spooky touches, potted yellow, orange, and deep red chrysanthemums are the makings of a Pinterest-perfect fall porch. Alas, these quintessential autumn blooms, either potted or in a flower bed, are an irresistible treat for deer, squirrels, and other four-legged garden menaces. If you're fall-flower-mad and share a space with these creatures, consider colchicum. Never heard of it? This perennial is a fave of Martha Stewart, so it obviously comes highly recommended. It sends up leaves in spring and magical blooms in fall after a summer's nap, and it will keep your garden full of pollinators through fall.

Colchicum resemble crocuses, so it may take a bit of a mental shift to view them as a late-season bloomer. Once you settle into the idea, colchicum will give you your fall flower fix without tempting animal pests; these purple, pink, yellow, or white flowers contain a toxin that deters animals from snacking on them. By the same token, all parts of this plant are extremely poisonous to humans and pets, so if you have family members who explore by taste, you may choose to give this one a miss.

Gardeners who want outdoor spaces brimming with glorious flowers for as long as the weather holds out, waste no time getting these beauties into the soil this year. Colchicum are suited to gardens in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8. Stewart recommends planting colchicum corms (similar to bulbs) in late summer or early fall for a floral show a mere four to six weeks later.

As soon as you've got the box of corms in your hands, don't waste a minute getting them into your garden. If planted early enough, they'll establish roots before your first frost and make it through winter for you to enjoy an autumn bloom every year.

Pick a spot with full sun or part shade with well-draining soil rich in organic matter. You can amend the soil to make it more accommodating to the corms, as well. Work the soil and any additives to about 6 inches in depth. If you're worried about your colchicum establishing strong roots before a frost, you can throw in a bit of bone meal to help spur on root growth.

Plant the corms in holes 3 inches deep and 6 inches apart. It's good form to place the corms in the holes root-end down, but Stewart shares that colchicum is an energetic enough grower for the flowers to find their way up no matter the corms' position. Keep the soil moist after planting and during bloom time. Stewart has observed her colchicum spread over the years, and their spring-like blooms can last into November in her area. In colder zones, add a couple of inches of mulch over the area once the blooms are done for extra protection over the winter.