Fall Is The Perfect Time For Planting
As the temperature starts to drop in the evenings, summer slowly leads to fall. When temperatures drop, we stop thinking about our gardens and begin worrying about the winter freeze. Fall is actually the perfect time to begin planting, so stop thinking about winter and use fall to your best advantage.
Colder temperatures make plants think more about fortifying their roots than growing and flowering. It’s the natural reaction as they prepare for the coming winter cold. It’s the perfect time to plant so they can develop strong roots.
Prepare the Area for Planting
Before you begin planting new plants, prepare the area, remove any dead, failing to diseased plants. This creates a more open planting area and the new plants don’t have to compete for nutrients with plants that likely won’t survive winter anyway.
It’s also a good time to refresh the mulch in your growing beds. This helps insulate the roots from the cold winter temperatures and is porous enough to water retention, but also prevent weeds. It’s probably best to wait until after planting to refresh the mulch.
Remove the mulch before planting to make the process easier.
What Plants Are Best for Fall
There are some plants that do better in the fall for planting. If you’re looking for edibles, then Brussel sprouts, cabbage, kale, lettuce, radishes, rutabaga, spinach, and kohlrabi are good to plant. They have shorter growing seasons, so they’ll be ready to harvest before the big winter freeze.
When it comes to flowers and other decorative plants, you’re shooting for a great growth the following spring. Trees and shrubs are perfect for fall planting. You don’t have to worry about intense summer heat damaging them, but the soil is warm enough for root growth.
They’ll Need Lots of Water
New plants need lots of water to help develop their root systems before the big freeze. They need deep watering with a hose or drip irrigation. You’ll want to keep an eye on them throughout winter.
It’s important not to overcrowd them when planting. You’re planting bulbs and starters, so imagine how they’ll look full grown and give them room to grow. You don’t want them competing for nutrients because they won’t be able to survive the winter.
If you want to learn more about fall planting, then please feel free to contact us today.