Fall gardening often involves preparing the garden for winter and raking up the leaves. But if you only focus on leaf removal, you're missing out on a perfect planting opportunity. The cool temperatures and several other benefits make fall an ideal time to add new plants to the landscape, divide overgrown perennials, and start a vegetable garden for fall and winter harvests. The fallen leaves are also ideal as mulch for all newly planted trees, shrubs, perennials and flower bulbs. Fall is the best time to plant and below we'll explain why!
Enough rainy days for your plants in autumn
It's no secret that summer heat and sunlight can take a toll on plants. If you don't take care of watering and the weather forecast doesn't look good for your garden, the effects can be devastating. Autumn not only has more rainy days, but also offers greater reliability in the amount of consistent rainfall. This allows foliage plants to seamlessly recover from the months-long heat spell and create a reliable environment in which some of your favorite vegetables and perennials can thrive.
Fall is the best time for planting: soil and root systems
When planting in the fall, you have about six weeks before the ground freezes. This varies from year to year and from place to place, but in some places there is no frozen ground at all. However, there is more than enough time for planting to develop a solid root system before the harsh winter arrives. However, for plants already in the ground, fall means a break from the hot sun. With consistent rainfall, less heat and the easing of drought in some places, root systems are less stressed and can flourish.
Plant the garden in autumn: few pests and plant diseases
From hungry insects to plant diseases, fall is usually quiet on the pest control front. Many common garden pests complete their above-ground life cycle in late summer, sothe autumn plantinghas fewer problems.
Autumn is the best time for planting: sowing a new lawn
Warm soil temperatures combined with sufficient moisture in autumn ensure rapid seed germination. That's why fall is the best time to seed a new lawn, fill in bare spots in an existing lawn, and even plant a meadow.
Perennials, trees and shrubs: long growing season
Autumn planting gives perennials, trees and shrubs a period of several weeks of growth before the plants go into hibernation. When the above-ground trunks and branches stop growing, it is important to know that the root system continues to grow. Water is essential for continued growth, so water the plants thoroughly every few weeks until the ground freezes. In autumnplanted trees, shrubs and perennials are usually well established by the summer heat of the following year. For example, you can plant the following plants:
- Flowering shrubs– Roses, peonies, asters, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, chrysanthemums, phlox, forsythia
- Evergreen, hardy trees– Boxwood, yew or privet
- fruit trees– Apple trees, plums, pear trees, cherry trees, quinces
- Berry bushes– Raspberries, currants, gooseberries
Most perennials tolerate division and replanting in the fall with ease. Both the soil temperature and the weather in the fall promote good root growth as the plants establish themselves in their new planting location. Water the perennials after transplanting, and every few weeks thereafter until the ground freezes, to ensure success. Cover the plants with a 15 cmthick layer of leaf mulchto provide additional protection in winter.
What flowers to plant in autumn?
Tulips, daffodils, crocuses, snowdrops and all other small spring bloomers mustin autumnPlanted before the ground freezes. Plan for weeks of colorful bouquets by planting bulbs that bloom in early, mid, and late spring.
Just like germinating vegetable seeds, you can also plant perennial flowers now so they can become established and grow vigorously in the spring. Pre-seeding a garden allows nature to determine which seeds will thrive the most. So when you sow your plants, this is an excellent way to see how the process went last year. This applies not only to seeds, but also to flower bulbs.
Autumn is the best time for planting: which vegetables to plant?
Typically, most gardeners get caught up in the spring and summer rush of growing vegetables, but fall is a great time too. The time window is shorter, but the constant temperatures and weather ensure that the vegetable beds bloom in early spring. You can germinate and plant the seeds now while the soil is still warm.
Now plant the bulbs in the soil so that a healthy root system can develop. Plant scallions, always the first to emerge in spring, for early flavor.Garlic is a plant, which have the hardest time surviving the winter, but don't forget to insulate the soil with a layer of mulch for the best results.
Cool-season vegetables thrive in the days of fall and even winter in some regions. Above all, you should grow some vegetables or herbs that will survive the winter. This includes:
- Vegetables: Onions, spring onions, garlic, rhubarb, lamb's lettuce, lettuce, spinach, Asian lettuce, winter purslane, radishes, chard and rocket
- Hardy herbs: thyme, mint, wormwood, mugwort and tarragon
