Now’s the Time to Plant

 

September is a great time to plant and there are a number of reasons this is so. The daytime temperatures are cooler and the soil temperature is warm, a perfect combination for planting in the garden. There are fewer insects and diseases to contend with. You generally have more time for gardening in the fall. The weather isn't quite as tricky as it is in the spring and you don't have that "spring rush" feeling to get everything done after winter. There is a great selection of perennials to choose from now, including mums and asters, colorful sedums and blanket flowers, as well as ornamental grasses.  Edibles such as raspberries, grapes, blackberries and rhubarb can be planted now, as well as flowering shrubs such as butterfly bushes, Potentilla and Spiraea. 

The key to fall planting, just like every other time of the season, is to prepare the soil.  The advantage this time of year is the soil is warm and drier, making it easier to add amendments. In our typical clay soils, that means adding organic material to the planting site is key. 

We stock locally produced bagged soil amendments such as Sheep, Peat and Compost. Bagged amendments make it easy to take home and place in the garden. Amendments should be incorporated into the planting site at a 50:50 ratio with the existing soil. Prepare a spot twice as large as the container your plant came in and half again as deep. Remove the plant from its container and break up the root ball. Place the plant in the planting hole just below grade, enough to form a slight depression in the soil. 

Soak the soil with Root Stimulator, then fill in the planting hole as needed. Even though the temperatures during the day are generally cooler so there's less moisture loss, it's important to keep your plants watered as fall deepens into winter.  All plants will handle our typical winter weather better, if they are well hydrated. 

When the ground gets cold, usually around Thanksgiving, add a 2" to 3" layer of mulch. This will hold in the moisture, keep the ground cold and stable through the winter helping the plant maintain dormancy and less likely to trigger new growth during any brief warm up periods. Soil Pep is a good choice for winter mulch. Plan to water all of the plants in your landscape every 4-5 weeks during the winter.  In summary, planting in the fall gives perennials, trees and shrubs time to establish and develop strong root systems, thus giving them vigorous head start next spring