Gardening in fall has quite a few surprising advantages over springtime.
Sprint isn’t the only time of the year when you can plant. Fall has a few distinctive planting advantages, such as cooler air temperatures and soil that’s already warm, allowing roots to grow in until the ground freezes. Fall actually has more good planting days than spring does, and things are usually less frantic around the house. The late season is also when all the best garden bargains start to come in as places try to sell the last of their inventory before winter. If you’re looking to freshen up your garden this fall, here are a few plant types that are perfect for putting in the ground during fall.
Pansies – Because the soil is still warm, fall is the best time to plant pansies and let their roots establish. Planting in fall will get you two seasons out of these cool-season favorite flowers.
Turfgrass – Fall is the perfect time to put down new turfgrass and do most of your lawn chores. Cool-season grasses like bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass will need to be fertilized in early September and late October. This will give them a boost earlier next spring.
Cool season vegetables – Broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, radishes, rutabaga, spinach, and swiss chard are all cool weather vegetables that are excellent for planting in the fall. Fall harvested crops will need to be planted in early August. Consult your seed packets to determine how long it will take until maturity.
Spring bulbs – Planting spring bulbs in fall will ensure that they bloom beautifully for a spring display. Spring bulbs need a cold dormancy to bloom vibrantly. Bulbs that critters don’t like to nibble on are a good choice–daffodil, crown imperial, grape hyacinth, snowdrop, winter aconite to name a few.
Perennials – Fall is a good time to plant some perennial species with large root balls. Peonies should always be planted in fall and should be planted no more than 2 inches above the bud of the root. Late summer and early fall are also a good time to play irises. All fall-planted perennials will need to be carefully watered until the ground freezes to ensure that their roots stay healthy and strong. Make sure they get at least 1 inch of water per week without overwatering.
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