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What You Should Be Planting in the Fall

October 04, 2022 By Donna Murray

This may be a little known fact, but fall is the key planting time for a beautiful garden. It's also the key time to give your plants one last manicure before winter sets in. Now that summer's heat is cooling off, it's time for you to switch out your summer annuals for fall appropriate annuals and plant spring bulbs before the first frost.

Refresh Your Garden With Fall Annuals

Mums, also known as chrysanthemums—are one of the most popular fall annuals. Buy potted varieties of them in September so that you will have options in every shape and color to choose from. Mums come in stunning shades of red, orange, yellow, white, pink, and lavender. Plant them in fall beds or containers (including pumpkins!) in full sun and be sure to keep them watered well.

Get Spring- and Summer-Blooming Perennials Planted

Phlox, sedum, bee balm, salvia, lamium, lavender, and creeping Jenny are just a few recommended perennials to plant in fall because it provides ideal conditions for establish their root systems, according to plant grower Costa Farms.

Grow an Edible Garden With Fall Vegetables

For a cool-weather vegetable harvest, plant lettuce, collards, carrots, Brussel sprouts, spinach, broccoli, radish, and more.

The general rule of thumb is to plant fall vegetables from seed 90 days before the first frost. If you are planting transplants from your local garden center, the timeline is even shorter and the plants are easier to grow for beginners.

Choose Fall Herbs That Tolerate Cool Weather

There are several herbs you can plant in fall that will hold up to mild winters, according to Bonnie Plants, these are parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, chives, lavender, cilantro, and mint. Plant herbs from transplants in containers or beds in a convenient location where you can easily snip off a sprig when a cozy fall recipe calls for it, like these herbed potato stacks.

Give Trees and Shrubs a Head Start

Fall is an ideal time to plant trees and shrubs, which gives them time to grow roots and take a strong hold in the ground. The soil temperatures are still warm enough for root growth while the cooler air temperatures help the newly-planted trees and shrubs flourish long term.

Plant Bulbs to Welcome the Coming Spring

Between Halloween and Christmas, you'll want to plant spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, jonquils, hyacinths, and other brightly colored flowers. What better way to welcome spring than with happy splashes of color in your garden beds and containers?

Courtesy of Southern Living

Donna M. Murray Real Estate Salesperson M: 908.391.8396 O: 609.710.2021 donna.murray@compass.com