5 Ways To Make The Most Of Fall Planting Season Leave a comment

While spring planting gets most of the attention, fall planting can be a gardener’s secret weapon! There are plenty of things you can plant now either to extend your garden’s productivity or to get a jump-start on growth next spring!

But no matter what you’re planting in the fall, be sure to focus on mulching rather than fertilizing. Mulch is the insulating blanket that will keep your plants warm and protected, while fertilizer will just encourage new growth that probably won’t survive the winter.

To show you just how productive the fall season can be in your garden, here are five things you can plant now to make the most of it! 🙂

5 Things You Can Plant During Fall Planting Season

1. Spring Bulbs

Fall is the perfect time to plant bulbs in preparation for those beautiful spring blossoms! Here are some popular bulbs for fall planting:

Plant each bulb with the pointy part facing upwards, at a depth that is three times the height of the bulb. (For example, for a bulb that is two inches tall, you would plant it six inches deep.)

2. Pansies

Pansies are surprising hardy flowers, and typically have no trouble surviving the winter. Just make sure to remove dead flowers regularly, and mulch your pansies once the soil freezes for added insulation.

3. Cool Season Vegetables

Spring isn’t the only time you can plant veggies! Here are some veggies that thrive during the cooler fall months:

• Greens. Kale, spinach, arugula, Swiss chard, and lettuces do well in cool weather and mature quickly. And using cold frames or covers in your garden can extend your growing season even further!
• Root Vegetables. Some say that carrots, radishes, beets, turnips, and other root veggies taste even sweeter when they are harvested after the first frost!
• Broccoli. Broccoli loves cooler weather and can tolerate frost. If you leave the plant intact after harvesting, you may get a second or even third harvest of broccoli florets!
• Onions, Shallots, & Garlic. Plant these in the fall and harvest next summer. Just make sure you mark them clearly so you don’t accidentally dig them up next spring!

4. Grass

Fall is the best time to do lawn chores and establish new grass. If you live in the North, cool-season grasses like ryegrass, fescue, and bluegrass can be fertilized in the fall as a boost for earlier greening next spring.

5. Trees & Shrubs

Trees and shrubs are an ideal choice for fall planting! It’s not as hot out, but the soil is still warm enough to support root development.

Plant trees and shrubs at their natural soil lines, but be sure to call your local utility companies first! You don’t want to run into any underground lines when you dig.

Do you do any fall planting in your garden?