Get a Jump on Spring with Fall Planting: Why It’s the Perfect Time to Grow
As the weather cools down and the days become shorter, it might feel like your gardening season is winding down. However, fall is actually one of the best times to get your hands dirty and plant for the upcoming year. The crisp autumn air provides ideal working conditions for gardeners, and it’s also an excellent time for planting trees, shrubs, perennials, and bulbs. Fall planting offers a unique advantage that spring doesn’t—plants can focus on root development, rather than battling heat, pests, and weeds. Let’s explore why fall is an ideal time for planting and how you can use this season to set your garden up for success next year.
Why Fall is the Best Time to Plant
Unlike spring, where plants must juggle the demands of root, leaf, and flower growth all at once, fall gives them a chance to concentrate on establishing strong root systems. With cooler air temperatures, plants experience less stress, making it easier for them to thrive. Additionally, the warm soil temperatures that linger into the fall months help roots grow vigorously until the ground freezes.
This extended period of root growth sets fall-planted perennials, shrubs, and trees up for success in the spring. When warm weather returns, these plants will have already developed a strong underground foundation, allowing them to burst forth with lush growth, often appearing as if they’ve been in the ground for a full year. In contrast, spring-planted varieties must juggle leaf and root growth at the same time, leading to slower establishment.
Advantages of Fall Planting
- Cooler Temperatures: Reduced heat stress on plants and gardeners alike.
- Fewer Pests: Cooler weather means fewer insects and weeds to manage.
- Extended Root Growth: Plants continue to develop roots until the ground freezes, ensuring a strong start for the spring.
- Water Efficiency: Plants require less water in fall due to reduced evaporation.
- Year-Round Landscape Appeal: Plant now to enjoy color, texture, and structure through every season.
What to Plant in Fall: Perennials, Shrubs, and Trees
Perennials to Plant Now
Many gardeners think of fall as the time when the garden goes to sleep, but it’s actually the perfect time to plant perennials. Fall-blooming varieties like asters, Joe-Pye weed, sedum, caryopteris, heleniums, and goldenrods provide late-season interest and attract pollinators preparing for winter. Even if you’re planting non-blooming perennials, fall gives them a head start for next year’s growing season.
Trees and Shrubs
For year-round visual appeal, consider planting trees and shrubs that offer more than just spring and summer interest. Evergreens like holly, rhododendron, spruce, yew, cypress, and boxwood are great for maintaining structure and color in the winter landscape. Another excellent option is camellias, which bloom in fall and winter, adding color during the cooler months. Their glossy, evergreen leaves provide texture and contrast year-round.
Deciduous trees are also great for fall planting. Fruit trees like apple, pear, and cherry are ideal if you’re dreaming of a home orchard. For shade, consider hardy varieties like maple, linden, sycamore, or elm. For spring blossoms, plant ornamental trees such as crabapple, dogwood, or redbud. Shrubs like forsythia, hydrangea, and butterfly bush can also be planted in fall, and they’ll reward you with beautiful flowers next summer.
Plant Spring-Blooming Bulbs in Fall
Fall is the time to plant spring-blooming bulbs like daffodils, tulips, crocuses, hyacinths, and alliums. These bulbs need time to establish themselves before the ground freezes in order to bloom next spring. Planting bulbs before the first hard frost ensures they’ll have time to settle in and produce the vibrant blooms you’re looking forward to when winter ends.
A quick tip: when planting bulbs, make sure they’re placed at the proper depth—typically three times the height of the bulb—and in well-draining soil. Adding a little bulb fertilizer at planting can also help with root establishment before winter arrives.
How Late is Too Late to Plant?
Timing is key when planting in the fall. Aim to have all of your plants in the ground at least two to three weeks before the average first freeze. For many gardeners in Maryland, this means finishing your planting by early November. Keep an eye on weather forecasts and soil temperatures to ensure your plants have enough time to settle before winter.
Caring for Fall-Planted Trees, Shrubs, and Perennials
Even though fall brings cooler temperatures, your newly planted additions still need proper care to ensure they survive the winter and thrive in the spring.
Watering
Continue to water your plants regularly until the ground freezes. Even though cooler weather reduces evaporation, new plants need consistent moisture to establish their roots. A good rule of thumb is to water two to three times per week, depending on rainfall and soil conditions.
Mulching
Adding a thick layer of mulch around your plants is essential for protecting roots during winter. Mulch helps retain soil moisture and insulates plants against fluctuating temperatures. When applying mulch, make sure to keep it at least two inches away from the stems of trees, shrubs, and perennials to avoid moisture-related rot.
Avoid Fertilizing
Unlike in spring, fall is not the time to apply fertilizer. Fertilizing in the fall can stimulate top growth rather than root growth, which is not beneficial as plants prepare to go dormant. Excessive new growth is vulnerable to winter damage, so it’s best to wait until spring to feed your plants.
Get Ahead on Next Year’s Garden with Fall Planting
Fall planting is a simple way to ensure your garden bursts to life with vigor come spring. Whether you’re adding perennials, planting shrubs and trees for structure, or laying the groundwork for spring bulbs, fall provides the perfect conditions for plants to establish themselves. By taking advantage of the fall planting season, you’re not only beautifying your landscape today but also setting your garden up for a vibrant, healthy start next year. So grab your gardening gloves, and take advantage of the cool temperatures to give your plants a head start.