What you can Plant in Fall
Come fall, we start to clean up our gardens and get them ready for winter, making sure everything is pruned and protected until spring. This year, we are having warmer temperatures later than usual, and have probably been keeping our gardens watered and have our flowers still blooming. As temperatures are finally starting to drop, now is the time to focus on getting everything ready for spring, including what can be planted in the fall for the best growing conditions for a strong and healthy plant.
Trees and Shrubs
When trees and shrubs are planted in the fall, the cooler soil temperature reduces stress on the plants and encourages root growth. Now is also the time of year garden centers are clearing out stock, and prices are usually lower than during the summer, another perk to planting in the fall. Make sure the tree or shrub you choose will fit the spot you would like to plant it in. Do a little research on how big it will be once fully grown to make sure it does not crowd the area you pick. When preparing the area, make sure to dig the hole it is to be planted in 2-3 times bigger than the root ball, and about as deep as the height of the root ball. Carefully remove the tree or shrub from the pot if it is in one, or if wrapped in burlap, remove or loosen the burlap, which will decompose if left. If the roots are tightly packed, make sure to loosen them to give them the best chance to spread out. Do not amend the soil in the hole you are planting your tree in, this could make the soil in the hole more nutrient dense than the soil surrounding it, which would encourage the roots to keep to the nutrient-dense soil and the roots will not spread out properly. Using a rooting hormone is fine and will encourage root growth, not the foliage. Compost can be added as a top dressing if desired. Make sure the soil is not compacted down too much when filling in the hole to leave room for air circulation. Do not prune the tree or shrub and make sure to water it enough before the ground freezes.
Perennial Plants
Another option to plant in the fall is perennial plants. Just like trees, this will give the plants a good amount of time to focus on root growth before winter. This is also a good time to divide perennial plants in your yard that are overgrowing their area. Plants can then be transferred to another area in your garden, or given away or traded if you do not have room for them. When dividing plants, make sure to dig far enough around the plant to protect the roots. You can use your shovel to get under the roots and lift them enough to get your hands in to remove a section. Gently loosen the roots from the part of the plant staying when pulling them apart. Replace with soil to cover and protect the part of the plant staying. Dividing plants will give the perennial a boost, stimulating new growth and allowing the plant to absorb more nutrients. Rudbeckia, aka black-eyed Susans, Echinacea, and Perovskia atriplicifolia, aka Russian sage, are a few options that can be planted in the fall.
Lawn Care
Fall is also a great time to plant grass seed or lay down turf. If you have some areas of your lawn that are patchy and struggling, now would be a good time to top dress and spread grass seed to help fill in the area. Late-season seeding is called dormant seeding. The most optimal time to seed in the fall that you can still water and promote root growth is typically done in September. Dormant seeding is done just before winter and allows the seed to germinate very early in the spring, which gets lots of moisture with melting snow and spring rain.
A few other plants can be added to your garden in preparation for the spring such as bulbs, like tulips and daffodils. If you plan on adding garlic to your garden, fall is the time to do so. When planting, do not separate the bulbs more than 48 hours before planting, leave the peels on, and plant pointy end up. Plant 2” deep and 6” apart. The garlic will form roots before the ground freezes and will be the first to pop up in your garden in the spring.