With the beginnings of fall in the air, those feeling the need to dig in a bit of dirt should take this opportunity to ready flowerbeds for fall plantings.

Wednesday, Ginger Haskell with the City of Andalusia was busy “deadheading” the pots along the Court Square.

“I do this so that we can get that last little bit of color before the weather turns,” Haskell said. “The summer heat really got to (the flowers) but they’ll bloom one more time if we do this and add a bit of fertilizer.”

Jerry Howell of Howell’s Nursery on U.S. Hwy. 29 said gardeners should now “make ready” for fall.

“It’s too early to plant fall color,” Howell said. “So, you have two options – one, you can trim those annuals back and fertilize them so they’ll re-flush; or two, you start preparing those fall beds to plant Oct. 1.”

To make those beds “pop,” Howell suggested plants such as mums, marigolds, pansies, violas, coleus, ornamental kale and cabbages.