TOPEKA, Kan. – Plant lover Jamie Hancock is advising Kansans to pay special attention to fall’s color show this year. The tree and shrub leaves are spectacular.

“Besides, this can be a great time to choose some ornamentals you’d like to have in your yard,” said Hancock, who is a Kansas State University Research and Extension horticulturist. She suggested the following as useful approaches:

*  Visit a local nursery to see what’s in color now.

“That’s an especially good way to select plants for fall display,” Hancock said. “Not all varieties produce good autumn color – even if you’ve heard they’re supposed to. Maples, for example, are a good choice in general, but some varieties simply don’t color up well. So, seeing a particular variety in color at the nursery can be a good way to guarantee success.”

*  Pay special attention to the plants that catch your eye as you drive up and down neighborhood streets.

“If you don’t know what kind of tree or shrub a particular eye-catcher is; collect a few of its fallen leaves that are still in good shape and take them to your county or district Extension office for help with identification,” Hancock said. “Collecting a branch with leaves would be preferable, of course, but first you’d need to get permission from the owner.

“In that case, the owner may already know what the plant is, remember its source and be willing to tell you about the plant’s good and bad points. That certainly would save you a trip or two.”

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