Planting Tips for the Fall Season
Did you know that the fall season is one of the best times to plant? The chillier air causes less stress to your plants and the warm soil ensures proper root growth to your trees, shrubs and perennials. This is also the perfect time to prepare your garden for the winter months to come. Read along for the dos and don’ts for fall planting.
Trees and Shrubs
DO:
Dig a sloped planting hole three times the width of the tree trunk.
Use a tree wrap to protect young bark from the cooling temps.
Plant trees up until the ground freezes.
DON’T:
Plant shrubs deeper than what they are in their container.
Remove dead and/or diseases tree and shrub branches until their leaves fall off.
Prune flowering trees - resist the urge and wait until right after they bloom in late spring.
HYDRANGEAS
DO:
Leave the flowers on your hydrangeas through the winter to add texture to the barren landscape.
Prune arborescens varieties to 6”-12”.
DON’T:
Don’t prune any of the serrata, quercifolia or macrophylla varieties until spring and only after new growth appears.
Leave your potted hydrangeas outdoors.
PERENNIALS
DO:
Plant perennials and ornamental grasses by the end of September.
Cut back plants that aggressively reseed, such as sweet autumn clematis.
Leave spent allium, coneflower, black-eye susan flowers and ornamental grasses for winter interest and wildlife food and shelter.
Leave foliage on butterfly bush, Russian sage, asters, foxglove, and mums to insulate the crown of the plants over winter
DON’T:
Divide late summer and fall blooming perennials until spring.
Divide perennials on hot autumn days as the heat of the sun can be stressful to the plants.
ROSES
DO:
Dispose of any diseased leaves.
Apply a mound of compost, shredded leaves, mulch or topsoil over the base of grafted roses.
Use a ring of chicken wire to keep protection material contained.
DON’T:
Cut back roses, as it encourages new growth that will not withstand winter.
Use styrofoam cones — on sunny winter days cones can heat up enough inside to cause the rose to break dormancy.
BULBS
DO:
Plant flower bulbs and garlic bulbs when nighttime temperatures drop into the low 50s up until the ground freezes.
Plant bulbs three times their height and 3″ apart with the point side up or on it’s side.
Add a mix of leaf mulch or compost to clay soil when planting bulbs.
Divide bulbs when they produce more leaves than flowers.
DON’T:
Cut back bulb foliage until it is limp and yellow and when the plant’s energy has been restored to the bulb.
Plant bulbs too shallow. This will cause them to emerge too early in spring and be susceptible to winter damage.
Plant tulips deeper than 10″.