Fall is, without a doubt, the perfect season for planting! Milder air temperatures, warm soils, and free irrigation (thank you, Pacific Northwest rainfall), all work together to make Fall the ideal time to get new plants, especially trees and shrubs, in the ground. Planting toward the end of the year gives roots ample time to get settled in during the Fall and Winter and lets them put on valuable below-ground growth before the next year rolls in.
Plus, after the frenzy of Spring and Summer growth, the slower pace of Autumn provides the necessary time and space to evaluate your garden and determine what should change! In Fall, it is easier to see which parts of your landscape need a statement plant, where vacancies in need of bulking up are in your landscape beds, and which plants should be moved or divided.
Why Is Fall Good for Planting?
Fall Planting Helps Roots Develop for Long-Term Success
The momentum of Spring is undeniable, and we are always fans of the instant gratification that comes from getting plants going during that season, but when you plant in Fall, you plant for the long-term success of the plant.
Fall planting is all about the roots! Namely, putting plants in the ground during Fall gives them time to grow deep roots so they are better able to withstand heat and drought conditions when Summer comes again the following year.
- Cooler air temperatures inherit to Fall slows the growth of plants above ground, which means there is less pressure for leaves, flowers, and stems to grow, and the plants are able to devote more resources to root growth.
- Warm soil temperatures persist despite cooler air temps, and warmer soils below ground mean that roots can happily grow until soil temperatures are in the low 50s to upper 40s.
- The return of Pacific Northwest rainfall in Autumn helps keep the soil moist and new roots happy and growing with less effort from the gardener. But it is always best to continue to monitor and spot-water new plants regularly until rains are ample and consistent!
Fall Planting Lets You Fix Issues in the Landscape
If Spring is the season of momentum in the garden, then Summer is the season of enjoyment. Spending time outside in the garden during the warmer months gives ample time to notice the good, the best, and the worst aspects of the landscape, and Fall is the season where those issues can actually be rectified.
Fall planting lets you remedy any tricky areas that you've been dealing with all Summer! Now that the weather is cooler and outdoor entertaining is dwindling, time outside in Fall can be spent digging, planting, and repairing.
- The bare spaces and gaps in landscape beds that were so apparent during the fullness of Summer are prime real estate for Fall planting and bulking up with perennials or grasses.
- Lack of privacy might become glaringly apparent during Summer garden parties, and an evergreen privacy or screening hedge that gets installed during the Fall will be far more successful than one installed in the Springtime.
- Natural focal points, such as the corners of beds, the views from windows, or the beds next to entryways or patios, should be top of mind, and Fall is the time to make sure they are planted with statement plants that add maximum pizzazz during the right seasons.
- Spaces that are dominated by a single plant can and should be addressed in Fall by lifting and dividing plants that have become overgrown or have ceased to bloom because of age.
Which Plants Can Be Planted in the Fall?
Evergreen Trees, Shrubs & Hedges: Evergreen plants are important all year, but especially in Winter when so many other plants are dormant. Fall is the perfect time to get a privacy hedge started, find your ideal statement dwarf conifer for a container planting, or pick up a flowering evergreen shrub to add bulk and blooms to borders in Summer.
Deciduous Trees & Shrubs: Fall color, anyone? This is the category that will give you the best Autumnal leaves in the landscape, but beyond that, these are the trees and shrubs with fantastic Springtime blooms, lush growth in Summer, and even berries in Winter!
Herbaceous & Evergreen Perennials: Perennials are perfect for adding depth and interest to the landscape. Herbaceous perennials bring floral fullness to borders and beds, while evergreen options allow the landscape to stay engaging even in the coldest months of the year.
Ornamental Grasses: Grasses shine in Autumn, where their attractive seedheads and interesting textures can be used in garden designs to achieve a modern aesthetic or to create something more Bohemian. And if you have existing grasses that have bald patches in the middle, now is the time to divide them or bring in fresh material.
Cold-Hardy Annual Color: Just because the landscape quiets down in Fall, it doesn’t mean this season can’t be full of flowers, too. Cold-hardy annuals like Pansies and Violas, as well as container favorites like Mums and Kale, help make Fall feel like a season to savor.
Spring-Flowering Bulbs: By the time enviable Springtime swaths of Daffodils and Tulips are on display, it’s too late to replicate the look in your own garden. Plant Spring-flowering bulbs in Fall and enjoy the early Spring splendor of blooms that will arrive before the rest of the garden awakes.
Cold-Tolerant Edibles and Herbs: Edible gardening doesn’t have to stop when the Tomatoes stop producing if you make a point to plant again in Fall! Fall veggie starts like Beets, Kale, Mustard, and Arugula will help fill raised vegetable beds in the cooler months, and don’t underestimate the power of evergreen herbs like Sage, Thyme, and Rosemary for bringing big flavors to Fall and Winter dishes.
Fruit Trees & Berries: Though the selection of fruit trees and berries isn’t as robust in Fall as it is in Springtime, Fall is a great time to get woody fruit plants in the ground. Not only will they be stronger a more productive next season, but fruit trees and berries are almost ALWAYS guaranteed to be sold at a solid discount in Fall.
Grass Seed for Lawns: Thin, Summer-worn turf and lawns are prime candidates for Fall lawn renovations. Scratch up the soil, put down grass seed, and top-dress with a bit of mulch for lawns that will be much stronger, fuller, and greener come Spring.
Fall Planting Tips & Techniques
We are lucky to live in an area where it is almost never too cold to plant! In the Pacific Northwest, Fall planting can be done from September through to Thanksgiving and beyond. For best results, try to get plants in the ground up to two weeks before your average first hard frost.
How to Plant New Plants in Fall
- Always add organic matter when planting and use a ratio of ⅓ to ½ planting compost to native soil. Dig your hole twice as wide, but no deeper than the nursery pot the plant came in, and keep the plant at the same level in the soil as it was before replanting.
- Organic starter fertilizer has essential nutrients that young plants need, and many are bone meal-based, which provides plants with the power to grow a healthy root system.
- Winter weather can be severe, so consider wind gusts and rain patterns and add in stakes when planting trees and large shrubs to prevent the plant from rocking and disturbing roots.
- To determine if your soil is too wet for planting, squeeze a wad of soil in your hand until it stays in a ball. Poke the soil ball with your finger—if it crumbles, it’s ready; if it stays in a ball, it’s too wet to work with (you can even damage the soil structure if you insist on planting). If drainage is a concern, partially fill planting hole with water to see how well it drains before planting.
If you plant close to or after frost, or when soil is overly soggy, those plantings may not root well, if at all. However, plants planting in the Fall should still fare better over Winter than they would if left in their nursery containers.
How to Move or Divide Plants Successfully in Fall
Herbaceous perennials like Irises, Daylilies, Geum, Shasta Daisies, and ornamental grasses are all excellent candidates for Fall division and replanting, which will help promote new blooms and rapid growth. Plus, it’s a great way to get new plants for the garden or to share with friends and family for free!
- A good rule of thumb is to divide spring-flowering plants in early fall and divide summer and fall bloomers in early Spring.
- Dig around the entire perimeter of the plant and lift it from its existing hold using a sharp spade or pitch fork.
- Cut the plant into two to four new clumps, taking care to evenly distribute roots or tubers using a sharp spade or a Hori Hori knife.
- Remember to give newly moved or divided plants plenty of TLC, including regular watering and a little extra mulch in winter, at least for the first year or two.
New Plant Aftercare & Winter Protection
Any plant that goes into the ground during the Fall, whether it is new from the nursery or the result of a division, will benefit from additional care during the cooler season ahead. Even “old” plants are “new” plants once they’ve been moved; young roots need extra protection from extreme temperatures (mulch).
- To speed up the rooting process, use Organic Starter Fertilizer or Root Master B-1 after planting.
- Mulch new plants with compost, bark, or our favorite free option, fallen leaves, to protect the roots from frost and help reduce rainwater runoff.
- Water new plantings, especially evergreen plants, seasonal color or plants under eaves, until rainfall is consistent. Even if you’ve planted deciduous or herbaceous plants that will go dormant for Winter, keep the soil moist until dormant and continue to water as they emerge in Spring.
- It’s always smart to be prepared to offer additional Winter protection via frost cloth or moisture lock to newly planted plants, especially evergreen shrubs, during extreme winter conditions.
- Before predicted cold snaps, water all plants well, especially newly planted evergreen ones.
Fall Weed Control & Prevention
Dormant weed seeds come alive as fall rains return.
- Use a layer of compost or mulch (at least 2-4 inches deep) to suppress weeds.
- Apply a corn gluten product or use Preen as an anti-germination agent in freshly weeded areas where you don’t want new seeds to sprout.
Fall is a magical time of year where crisp air, the return of rain, and the beauty of plants going dormant work together to create the perfect planting conditions. Visit any of our independent Oregon or SW Washington Garden Centers to get high-quality, locally-grown plants along with expert advice, and make Fall your new favorite gardening season!