Fall Color, Bulbs & Seasonal Plant Ideas for Tennessee Yards (October 2025)
October is a wonderful time to inject seasonal beauty into your yard with fall annuals, native plants, and early bulb planting. Even as leaves fade, you can create vibrancy and plan for spring. Here’s a guide for 2025 Tennessee homeowners (Sumner & Robertson County).
1. Choosing Fall Color Plants
Mums, ornamental kale, pansies, violas: hardy through October and often into early winter
Asters, goldenrod, sedum ‘Autumn Joy’: provide late-season blooms and pollinator benefits
Native grasses (switchgrass, blue oat grass, etc.): add structure and winter interest
2. Bulbs to Plant in October
Spring bulbs: tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, allium
Plant when soil is cool but before hard freeze—mid to late October is ideal in Tennessee
Dig holes 2–3× bulb height, pointy end up, top with compost, water in
3. Container & Accent Plant Ideas
Use pumpkins, gourds, decorative squash as seasonal container elements
Combine with evergreen boughs (boxwood, holly sprigs) for structure
Add LED accent lighting to highlight fall color in evening
4. Caring for Your Color Plantings
Water well after planting and maintain moisture (not saturation)
Deadhead spent blooms but allow seed heads on native plants to support birds
Mulch around plantings to insulate roots as winter approaches
5. Transitioning to Winter Interest
Let structural elements (ornamental grasses, shrubs) show through
Plan for evergreen screens or foliage for color retention
Think ahead: order spring bulbs now before selections diminish
Conclusion
Even as your lawn slows down, you can keep your yard lively with fall color and plan ahead for spring’s burst. For help selecting, planting, or maintaining these seasonal additions, Eagle Landscape is here to partner with you. Get in touch for design consultations or planting services ahead of the window closing.
