5 Reasons You Should Plant In The Fall

It's September and is finally starting to feel cooler outside. I am not sad to see the blistering temps of summer going away. I have not been able to spend as much time outside as I would like, so for me, Fall means more garden therapy in my yard. If you have visited a garden center lately (or you want to), you may find yourself wondering if you can plant perennials in the fall. Can you plant trees and bushes in the fall? The answer is not only YES, but it is the BEST time to plant them. Here are my top 5 reasons you should plant in the fall.

#1 Cooler Temperatures

Planting when the temperatures are cooler, means there is less stress on the plant. Especially for plants that require full sun. If you have ever transplanted or planted something in the heat of the summer, then you know how you have to baby it for it to even survive. If you plant at the beginning of fall, you will have up to 6 weeks of temperatures that are warm enough for the plant to get established before frost comes. But even a few weeks is enough for fall planting.

Along with lower temperatures, there also tends to be more rain all in the fall which helps newly planted plants gets established. Any plants, when it is first planted, needs to be watered regularly. Even if it is drought tolerant. The cooler temps mean your plants won't dry out as quickly as they would in the heat of the summer months.

#2 Root Growth

Roots have a growth spurt in the spring when temperatures start to warm up and again in the fall. But unlike in the early spring, plants will spend less of their energy on new growth in the fall, which mean more of their energy can go to growing strong roots. The cooler fall night temperatures tells the plants that it is time to stop focusing on blooms, and fruit and instead focus on what's below the ground. The air temperatures may be cooling down, but the soil is warm enough for them to get established. In fact, soil temperatures are so nice and warm from all that summer heat and it stays warm for a long time. The roots will continue to grow until the ground freezes which makes fall a great time to plant. You can also use a root stimulator to help the process even more. (affiliate link)

Whether you choose bare-root perennials, or container-grown perennials, now is a good time to get those new plants in the ground.

#3 Great Deals

Fall time equals bargain time! Garden centers and big box stores tend to have big sales on plants in the fall. Big box stores don't typically have a place to store plants over the winter months so they will clearance them out to get rid of them. Garden centers will have sales to get more people in the door since there tends to be a lull that time of year. Take advantage of the good deals and buy your bushes, trees and perennials in the fall while they are on sale. I have joined gardening groups on Facebook and the members are really good at sharing where they have found good deals in the area. If you wait for sales, you can really save a lot on plants for your landscaping, verses waiting until next spring.

#4 Get A Head Start

I have heard the phrase that "Next years blooms start in the fall." That means that if you plant new perennials in the fall instead of waiting until the spring, you will get bigger plants and blooms the following spring and summer because it got a head start in the ground. When you plant in the spring, it seems like just as it is getting established, the temps rise, bugs show up, and the rain is sparse. A lot of perennial plants don't bloom well the first year, if at all. By planting in the fall, you give your plant an ideal growing environment to get established so it is better ready to handle the challenges of summer next year. So plant in the fall and be rewarded with an earlier bloom time!

Fall is the ideal time to plant because it gives roots time to get established before the first hard frost.

#5 Less Pests

As the summer ends, the life cycle of common insects are wrapping up as well. Your newly planted bush, tree, or perennial, will have less pests munching away it its leaves and causing problems. This means your plant will have a better chance of flourishing pest free if planted in the fall season. It will be well established by the time next years pest arrive.

There are also typically less weeds growing in the fall. That means less competition for nutrients, sunlight, and water with your fall-planted perennials.

I have been picking up some beautiful plants to plant in my yard over the past week since we have dipped down into the 80s. I am planting hostas, several types of bushes, grapevines, and a tree. Last year I planted coneflowers in the fall and was rewarded with earlier blooms. It is also a good time to transplant. I have a couple of large bushes that I will be moving to a new spot in my yard as well. Those fall transplants will have plenty of time before the first frost to get established in their new home.

5 Reasons You Should Plant In The Fall

Those 5 reasons are why I think you should plant in the fall. So if you have been wanting to add more plants to your yard or garden beds, now is the time to do it! The growing season isn't over. In some ways it has just begun! Early fall is a the perfect time for planting perennials, bushes and trees.