Fall is for Planting

Spring may be great, but fall is the best time of year for planting new or existing perennial gardens. Why? Read on.

The cooler temperatures of fall are easier on new plants and the moisture from seasonal rains helps trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials establish strong root systems. Still-warm soil in fall also promotes good root growth. Pests and disease problems aren’t as big an issue in fall as they are in spring.

While spring is also a mild season, summer quickly follows with heat, wind and sometimes drought. These are tough conditions for new plants to establish themselves in. Tough for us gardeners, too – when we have to drag hoses around to make sure new plants are watered. In fall, new plants are able to root in easily, have a dormant period, followed by another mild season, all before their first summer.

In short, planting in fall gives plants an advantage in establishing themselves.

Plus, it is in fall that us gardeners can easily look back on the season and identify when and where there are “holes” which need to be filled.