Fall is a good time to plant perennials. With so much garden work going on in the spring, planting perennials in the fall can take a load of work off of you when the weather starts to heat up in the spring. Perennials that are planted in the fall will take off beautifully because they have had the entire fall and winter seasons to settle in and establish themselves.

Great selections of perennials that can be planted in the fall include aster, blanket flower, catmint, coreopsis, delphinium, hostas, penstemon, scabiosa, Rudbeckia, and salvia. All of these are hard working plants and they will fill your spring garden with color.

Plant Spring Bulbs In The Fall

Shrubs and trees are best planted in the fall because the soil is warm and the air is cool. This environment is really important for healthy root development. When you plant shrubs and trees in the warmer months of the year, they do not have time to firmly establish their root systems before they are forced to endure the stress and rigors of summer.

Another advantage of fall planting is that you can usually find what you need at greatly discounted prices. Nurseries are ready to clear everything out for the winter so they can begin again in the spring. So, don’t be afraid to purchase discounted trees and shrubs late in the fall. You can do fall planting at any time, as long as your ground has not frozen.

If you live in a region that has very early deep freezes, you may have no other option but to plant your shrubs and trees in early spring.

Plants love mulch if it is done properly. Mulching perennial plants helps to keep weeds at bay and it also helps to conserve moisture. Suitable mulch material for perennial plants includes grass clippings, shredded bark or straw. Many gardeners will apply a layer of winter mulch. If you opt to spread winter mulch, wait until after the first couple of freezes have passed. If you apply winter mulch too soon it can be bad for plants. Mulch insulates the soil and this can hinder plants from going dormant. Your plants could produce new growth which will be damaged by the cold.