Fall Is Great for Planting — Here’s Why!

Here’s good news for gardeners who feel they missed their chance to establish a garden in Spring: Fall is here.

While Spring traditionally opens the gardening season, many gardeners are aware that Fall is great for planting. In October, the soil is still warm from Summer heat while the air begins to cool, creating the perfect environment for healthy root growth. “This, combined with declining pest and disease populations is a recipe for success,” horticulture experts at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture explain. “Work and planning now will pay off in the Spring with strong healthy plants growing beautifully in a home garden.”

And after the long, sweltering Summer, cooler weather brings you back out to enjoy the outdoors again. Think of it as the garden’s “second season.” What to plant? You may be surprised at what thrives in a Fall garden.

Shrubs and trees

Fall and Winter months are a good time to plant shrubs and trees. Spring-planted shrubs need to be watched and watered regularly as the weather gets warmer and they establish themselves in the ground during the growing season. Planted when they are dormant, trees and shrubs can put their energy into establishing good root systems before they begin active growth again next Spring. 

Water trees and shrubs at planting time and throughout the season while it’s still warm and dry, but decrease watering as the weather begins to turn cold.

Perennials 

Those coneflowers, daylilies, peonies and other Summer-blooming perennials may not look their best in the garden center right now, and they certainly won’t bloom this year. But planting them now gives them a chance to grow quickly into the still-warm soil before frost arrives. 

A layer of mulch at planting time will help keep the soil moist, and should protect the new plants from being pushed out of the ground during Winter’s freezing and thawing. Next Spring, Fall-planted perennials will emerge as strong, healthy plants.

Kitchen garden

In early fall, many kitchen-garden veggies begin to fade, but the opportunities for those garden beds don’t come to an end. As you pull out the declining squash and cucumber vines, you can make space for vegetables that thrive in cooler weather, allowing you to enjoy homegrown produce throughout the fall and, in some cases, well into winter. Consider the possibilities!

• Leafy vegetables: Lettuce, spinach, kale, chard and other leafy greens planted early Spring grow quickly when the soil is cool, and go to seed and die back as the weather warms up. Planted now, though, as weather begins to cool, these leafy greens will again thrive. 
• Root vegetables: Once they sprout, carrots, turnips and radishes grow fairly quickly, and continue to survive even through frosty Fall nights. 
• Cole crops, or brassicas: Broccoli, collards, cabbage, kale, bok choy, and others are among the cool-season vegetables that thrive in fall and are tough enough to withstand the colder weather ahead.

Tips for success

As we settle into October, the cool weather of fall is starting to take hold in Middle Tennessee. Ensure that new plants receive plenty of water at planting time and throughout the season to help establish their roots before winter. Mulch is also beneficial for retaining soil moisture and protecting plant roots (just be sure not to pile mulch around the trunks of trees and shrubs).

In kitchen gardens, be aware that the transition to cooler temperatures can still present challenges. Seed germination may be affected by lingering warm spells, and summer pests and fast-growing weeds can hinder your efforts. Stay vigilant and care for your fall-growing vegetables from planting to harvest.

*

Ready to enhance your outdoor space this Fall? Let us do the heavy lifting! Our skilled maintenance and landscaping teams can tackle your Fall landscaping project. Let us know what you’re looking for to get started.