Fall Planting

 

Why Fall is for Planting

Fall is an ideal time to get a big head start on next year's growing season! It's a proven fact that fall planting gets perennial flowers, shrubs and trees off to a faster, more vigorous start the following spring. Let's look at the factors that make fall such a good time to plant:

  1. Fall planted perennials bloom more profusely the following spring.
    Fall planted perennials develop larger, more-established root systems with fall transplanting and take off more quickly than the same sized plant transplanted in spring.
  2. Fall transplanting requires less water. As plants go dormant, they require less frequent irrigation. This is especially valuable when planting gardens in areas with summer watering restrictions and surcharges. Note: Be sure to water first year transplants during the winter (once every 3-4 weeks) when winter moisture is scarce and the soil isn't solidly frozen.
  3. Fall is the preferred planting time in the southwestern US (and in other mild winter climates with extreme summer temperatures). Mild fall and winter temperatures are ideal for establishing new transplants.
  4. Establish plants before the dry, punishing winds of spring and the withering heat of summer. Fall transplants have larger, more established roots that help plants survive difficult climatic conditions, like heat and wind.