Fall Is Planting Time!
Things are cooling a bit as we get well into September. We are seeing nighttime temperatures in the 60s and the mornings are starting to have that cool feeling of Fall around the corner. There are even a few early birds showing a bit of color in their leaves as the chlorophyll is drawn down into the tree, leaving only the other colored pigments behind. This time of drifting off toward the Winter slumber is probably not the time most people think about planting, but it’s an excellent time for some things.
Trees do exceptionally well when planted in the Fall. The soil is warm and holds moisture better without the loss to evaporation due to the heat of summer. The humidity is a little higher, preventing desiccation of plant tissues. And people tissues. It’s even more enjoyable to be outside working in the yard this time of year! And, if you’re looking for a particular tree with a certain Fall color, like red, this might be the only time you can be absolutely certain it’s going to put on the show you expect for years to come. Nursery labels can be wrong sometimes. It’s rare, but still possible.
If you are looking for the perfect evergreen tree to plant in your yard, Fall is usually when the local nurseries get their best deliveries from the Northwest. This is the time of year when many growers in the Northwest dig and either pot or, more commonly, ball and burlap the evergreen trees and shrubs. We’re talking needled evergreens, known as conifers, such as spruce, pine, cedar, juniper, cypress, etc. By the time the cut trees show up for Christmas, the nurseries should be well stocked with live trees. Consider purchasing a live tree to plant in your yard after the holidays. Just pay close attention to the instructions for keeping the tree alive through Christmas. My recommendation is to decorate it on a porch and not keep it indoors at all.
Other plants also do well planted in the fall for the same reasons as trees. You will usually find a plethora of choices in the nurseries this time of year in the perennial section. Mums are very popular in Fall because that’s when they bloom. They are often available other times, but out of bloom plants don’t sell well, so you might have to hunt around a bit. But Fall is a great time for planting most perennials and nurseries usually stock up on them at this time for that reason. There should be a good selection and many choices.
Another category of bedding plants that shows up this time of year is what we refer to as tender perennials or sometimes hardy annuals. Think snapdragon, stock, pansies, violas, etc. These are great cool season plants to brighten up your garden during the darker time of the year. Even after a snow you might see the color of a fresh pansy blossom showing through as it melts on a sunny day! And remember, even when the top of the plant is asleep in the winter, the roots are busy growing underneath. More on that later.
So grab one of these shorter days and get a few plants in the ground. Trust me, it feels good to be outside again in the yard. Breathe in some of that crisp, clean air our area is famous for. Your heart will thank you too.
See You In The Tree Line!
The Horticoach