Fall is an ideal time to plant most types of perennials, shrubs & trees! During the Fall, the relatively warm soil and cool air help the plant’s roots get established more quickly without putting too much stress on the plant. Since the roots are the foundation of the plant, you can give them a nice head start by planting in the fall. Let’s dig a little deeper into WHY you should plant in the fall!
Many people are surprised to learn that autumn runs a close second to spring as an ideal planting time, but it’s true: cool temperatures, reliable rainfall, and short, bright days help plants make a quick and easy transition to your landscape. Despite the cold weather lurking around the corner, the entire first half of autumn (and then some) provides ample opportunity for plants to grow roots and get off to a good start in their new home. Before you come visit us, there are a few things you should know to ensure success with fall planting:
- Get everything in the ground before the ground freezes! If you still have plants in their nursery pots, get them in the ground before winter, no matter how late it has gotten. The plants will be much happier and better protected in the ground than in their thin plastic pots, so even if it’s getting quite late in the season, just plant them where you can. You can always move them come spring if you change your mind!
- Provide supplemental water when needed. Autumn weather can be quite cool and rainy, but that doesn’t mean that new plantings should be ignored, particularly if the weather has been dry and/or windy. Water all plants thoroughly after planting, and continue to water them as needed until the ground freezes.
- Mulch!! Just as you pile on blankets and quilts when the temperatures drop, mulch acts as insulation for plants. Mulch also creates the ideal environment for vigorous root growth, which helps new plantings get off to a good start. While even established plants benefit from a nice layer of mulch, newly planted specimens especially appreciate the protection it offers from the challenges of winter.
- Know what to expect! You won’t see much top growth emerge on fall-planted shrubs, but this is actually a good thing: any new growth that the plant produces now will be too soft to survive the impending cold anyway. Autumn planting is all about giving the plant a chance to put on root growth. Plantings will be ready to grow in the spring thanks to the roots they create in fall!
- Bonus tip: All of these guidelines apply to transplanting as well as new plantings, so if you’ve been considering moving something that’s already a part of your landscape, fall is a great time to do it!
