Fall Planting

Fall planting, in most of the United States, is the best time for planting the cool season vegetables and perennials. Fall planting is also better for those deciduous and evergreen shrubs and trees. As the summer growing season comes to an end you can start preparing for next year's garden. Fall is a great time for planning and planting the beginnings of a new spring garden. Most of us only think about planting during the spring.

The official beginning of fall starts in late September with the autumnal equinox, but the cooler weather differs significantly from one section of the country to another. For this reason the best time for planting in the fall is generally about 6 weeks before a hard frost hits. In some of the northern sections of our country, the best time for planting may even during late summer. Generally speaking the opportunistic time for planting for those living in the remainder of the country is in September and October.

The reason for planting in the fall is because the warmth of the soil encourages growth of the roots of plants. The roots will continue growing through the winter until the ground begins to freeze. The areas of the country that have mild winters, root growth will continue through the winter season. By planting in the fall the roots of your plants will continue to mature or begin new growth at a much faster pace and the top growth will begin. If you wait until spring to plant, the roots will have a slower start because of the colder soils; those that were planted during the fall now have a well established beginning. When summer comes around the plants you planted in the fall will be more capable of handling the heat and any drought conditions due to the root systems being well-established.

There are also some other good advantages to fall planting such as fewer problems with pests and diseases, usually dependable amounts of rain, and cooler temperatures. You will also find that many nurseries and home improvement centers place many plants on sale during this time of year which makes life a little easier on your pocketbook.

By planning ahead of time on your part you can create a color scheme for your garden by using just bulbs; it is better to select the bulbs that will naturalize so you will not have to replace them each year. The longer you wait to plant the bulbs the less likely the root systems will develop into their best qualities. If you wait too long to plant you may run the risk of not getting any blooms at all or you may get some the first season but blooming again next season is not always guaranteed.

You can even scatter some flower seeds; many seeds need to have time in the cold weather before sprouting. Some flowers such corn poppies or Flanders poppies do not have to be buried in the ground but when they become established will sow themselves. There are a few other seeds you can scatter such as hollyhock, dianthus, and floxglove. You can plant any seedling or container-grown plant while the ground is still pliable but be sure to mulch well. In the northern sections of the country it is best to wait until spring before planting any bare-root perennials. In the Southwest or the Deep South you can plant cool season annuals for blooming in winter such as poppies and larkspurs.

This is also a good time to purchase some outdoor yard decorations because it will bring a little more life to the garden and will add perkiness to the winter landscape at the same time. Even though next spring is a long way away you do not want your landscape or gardens to sleep, you want them alive with winter charm. You can plant now for next winter by planting nandinas and hollies which produce berries and other shrubs and trees. To achieve one of the best gardens or landscapes try doing a little fall planting.