Now that the heat of summer has subsided and frosty nights are upon us, it’s time to dust off those gardening gloves.
Gardeners who practice smart fall planting know it can increase food yields while giving plants an early jump on growth. Furthermore, this reduces stress on trees and shrubs so they can focus their energies on developing strong roots.
- Cooler Temperatures
After an exasperating summer filled with scorching heat, weeds, and pests, it’s always a pleasure to get back out into your garden in the fall. Cooler temperatures and shorter days provide ideal conditions for planting cool-season crops such as leafy greens, root veggies, and cool-season fruits – such as leafy greens.
Cool-weather veggies such as carrots, radishes, beets, turnips, parsnips, and cauliflower all thrive when planted in the fall. Most gardening zones allow harvesting before frost arrives if covered with mulch (grass clippings, wood chips, or shredded bark are great options). For an eye-catching addition to your salads this fall season consider planting flowering annuals like pansies, arugula, or Swiss chard which grow quickly due to cooler fall temps before turning into hot summer weather.
Fall is also an ideal time for planting cool-season flowers and trees since their dormant state allows the soil to readily absorb nutrients more readily allowing them to establish strong roots before beginning growth in spring.
Fall is also an ideal time for feeding the soil with high-quality organic fertilizers such as compost, manure, mulch, or store-bought liquid plant food. Although high-nitrogen fertilizers should generally be avoided as they encourage new aboveground growth at a time when roots should be the focus, look for one with a higher concentration of phosphorus to encourage root development instead. Now is also a great opportunity to test your soil nutrient levels with a simple soil sample test; this will give an idea of what your garden requires before next spring!
- Less Sunlight
Many see the first frost of autumn as signaling that summer has come to an end; for gardeners who wish to extend their gardening season, however, this marks a fresh start. Early fall through mid-November is an excellent time for planting bulbs, cool-season annuals and vegetables as well as shrubs and perennials in warm soil; cool temperatures prevent heat stress which could damage plants further.
At this time of year, it’s also a good idea to move or give away perennials that are no longer flourishing in their current location. If a plant doesn’t receive enough light or suffers too much wind, moving it elsewhere in your yard should usually be straightforward – just check its hardiness zone beforehand to make sure that it will flourish there!
Fall is also an excellent time to add permanent landscape elements, such as ornamental shrubs and trees, shade-loving perennials such as hydrangeas and rhododendrons, fruit trees, and evergreens (if space allows). Though spring planting is often best suited to these trees, fall may offer another great opportunity for their planting in your garden.
As you prepare your garden for winter, add mulch to its beds. This will keep weeds at bay while helping the soil remain moist and nutritious throughout. When selecting mulches, keep in mind the following options: grass clippings (not treated with herbicides), fallen leaves or shredded bark mulch are good choices – wood chips containing chemicals could leach into the soil, harming plants. For assistance on which type to buy visit your local garden center.
- Less Water
Planting trees and shrubs in the fall allows their energy to go toward root development, giving them a headstart come springtime. Furthermore, this method helps conserve water more effectively than planting during summertime does – thus relieving stress associated with drought conditions.
Consistent rainfall comes with cooler weather during the fall gardening season, making it easier for new plantings to remain hydrated and establish themselves successfully. A rain gauge can easily be kept handy to monitor precipitation levels during this season and ensure newly planted seeds and transplants receive enough water before becoming established.
Fall’s cool soil allows roots to flourish more rapidly than they would during a hot and dry summer, providing them with all the energy they need for growth all winter long, and will also better equip them to face drought-stricken summer days.
As soon as fall arrives, perennial planting is an ideal time for adding daisies and asters to sunny flowerbeds and heuchera and hostas to shaded areas of your landscape. Furthermore, now is also an excellent time to divide and propagate perennials so you can make more for friends to share – this project makes a fun family activity! Follow our step-by-step guide for how to divide perennials.
- Fewer Pests
Many of the pests that ravage gardens during spring and summer become less of a threat in autumn, making their management easier. Of course, you should still monitor for potential issues; just that their frequency decreases significantly.
Planting in the fall gives your garden time to establish itself before winter arrives and becomes less vulnerable to frost and cold temperatures.
There are still plenty of shrubs and perennials you can plant this fall, including evergreens and ornamental holly trees. Some tulips, hyacinths, and spring-blooming perennials like pansies and violas do well when planted during this season too – planting cool-season grasses through seeding or sodding is also a good idea!
Vegetables also do well when planted before your region’s first frost date, provided you sow seeds of squash, corn, and pumpkins along with leafy greens such as kale collards and garlic at least four weeks beforehand.
As fall gardening season rolls in, fertilizing with soil amendments is key for its success. Doing so helps improve physical structure by reducing compaction and aeration to enable water and nutrients to move more freely through your plants’ roots without excessive top growth taking place at once. High nitrogen fertilizers may promote top growth at a time when their roots should focus on root development rather than new top growth; for an extra boost use a product such as Superthrive root stimulator for increased root development rather than foliage expansion.
- Less Time
No matter the size or scope of your garden space, gardening can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of size. That is part of its appeal; anyone from in-ground backyard gardens to raised bed community gardens to potted tomatoes on windowsills can participate in gardening. It provides endless hours of enjoyment!
Fall temperatures make it easy to work the soil by hand and assess its condition. If it sticks together or appears muddy, waiting will likely be necessary; an indicator that your garden soil has become workable would be when it starts crumbling in your hands; this also signals when fertilization should take place.
Vegetable plants planted in the fall often yield harvestable crops before frost arrives. Broccoli thrives best when planted early, giving it time to mature before temperatures turn colder. If planting broccoli seedlings alongside marigolds or nasturtiums as companion plants, these companion plants can help deter cabbage moths and aphids from attacking your crop.
Perennial plants like chrysanthemums, beebalm, and roses should be divided in the fall for maximum flower production in spring as well as providing food and shelter for songbirds. Mulch can help perennials survive the harsh winter conditions.
Now is also an ideal time to take stock of both vegetable and ornamental plantings, and weed out any that are overgrown or dead – giving a headstart on spring plantings while making cleanup simpler at season’s end.