Everything You Need to Know About Fall Planting

Many homeowners believe that spring is the best time of year for optimum planting- and they are not wrong. However, fall holds a close second to spring as the best time of year for planting. At Four Seasons Landscape Management, we love watching the seasons change and the evolution of plants begin for the new time period. We also love fall planting, and prepping our clients’ lawns for springtime! This blog has all of our Do’s and Don’ts for Fall Planting. Keep reading to learn how to effectively plant your lawn this fall!

The Best Fall Planting Practices

1. Do All Planting Before The Ground Freezes

Once fall hits, there is roughly a 6-week timeline for prime fall planting before the temperature drops and the ground becomes too cold for planting. Therefore, there is only that semi-short window when you are able to plant during the fall season. This 6-week time period will give your plants time to get established before the cold weather sets in and all growth comes to a halt. Although some areas of your lawn will not entirely freeze, it is important that whatever plants you do plant are able to withstand cold temperatures, snow, ice, etc. A good rule-of-thumb to follow if you are unsure of when it is too cold to plant new plants, November is typically the universal month of the year that we recommend to stop planting. This also includes any plants that you still have in pots that need to be planted in the ground.

2. Continue Watering Your Plants

Just because the weather is cooling down, does not mean that you should stop watering your plants. The opposite is true. You should continue to water your plants periodically as you would during spring and summer. Even if your current climate is cool and rainy, supplemental water is needed for new growth. You can halt watering once the ground has officially frozen. Water is a key nutrient that all plants need, no matter what time of year!

3. The Best Types of Plants To Plant

These plants thrive during the fall season and allow for optimum rooting before spring rolls around:

• Trees
• Perennials
• Spring-Blooming Bulbs
• Shrubs
• Cool-Season Vegetables: Some examples include carrots, brussel sprouts, lettuce, kale, cabbage, spinach, and more!

Things to Avoid When Fall Planting

The main thing to avoid when planting during fall is planting once the ground is frozen or you are in the midst of winter. As we mentioned above, if your plants do not have enough time to get established and rooted into the ground before winter comes, they will not be able to withstand harsh climates and weather. We suggest always doing a fall clean-up before you begin any planting during fall. If you don’t do this, your lawn will be crowded with access debris, leaves, and thatch leftover from spring and summer. This is not ideal for your soil or lawn for planting.

If you are in need of fall planting assistance or landscape design for the upcoming Autumn season, our team at Four Seasons is ready to help! Schedule a free consultation with us today.