Fall Planting

Ready for fall fever?  Lee County gardeners should consider trading in some of their spring fever for the fall variety because September, October, and November are excellent months for planting container-grown perennials, trees, and shrubs.

When you consider that most plants are available in spring, most people buy their new plants in spring, and theory has it that container-grown plants can be set out nearly year-round, you could deduce that spring is a fine time to plant.  Well yes, but since we are gardening in the more southern reaches of Zone 7, planting in the fall is often a better choice.  Our short springs so quickly give way to very hot and often dry weather.  If you set out your new plants during hotter times of the year you will have to spend more time, money and energy watering and generally put your new plants under undue stress.   And a plant under stress will also be more susceptible to unwanted insects and disease.

The main issue is the roots.  Your plants need sufficient time (generally four to six weeks) to establish good roots before the onset of cold or hot, dry weather.  By planting during the months of September, October, and November, your plants will have ample time to develop an extensive root system before new foliage growth occurs and freezing soil temperatures set in.  And you can give the plant an added boost by choosing to plant on a cool overcast day.

Of course, there is one little glitch in this fall planting strategy.  The best and widest selection of perennials may only be offered in the spring at many garden centers while they are also offering warm-season annuals and late-flowering bulbs.  By fall, the garden center may not even be open.  So you will need to find other sources for new plants during this time and you will want to make good, healthy selections from the plants available.

Here are a few suggestions by type of plant.

Bulbs

Spring flowering bulbs must be planted in the fall to allow time for root development and to satisfy cold requirements (6-20 weeks, depending on the type of bulb).  Root growth will begin in the fall and continue through the winter.  The soil temperature is the most important consideration.  You will need to wait until the soil temperature is below 60 degrees Fahrenheit to plant your bulbs, and in Zone 7 that usually means planting in November to early December.

Shrubs

Fall is the prime time for planting healthy container-grown or balled and burlapped shrubs.  After planting, your shrubs will need at least 4 weeks of soil temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit to get their roots down, so November is still a good time to plant new shrubs and to move older shrubs that have outgrown their location.

Trees

October and November are good months to plant trees.  You will have the best success with deciduous trees after they have gone dormant.  You can continue to plant trees in to early December and, once planted, you can continue to water in your new trees as long as the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged.

Perennial flowers

You can plant perennial flowers until the end of November to ensure six weeks of root growth before the ground is expected to freeze.  Late-planted perennials will benefit from a three to five inch layer of mulch to help hold in the ground warmth.

Ornamental grasses

Here is one contrarian tip.  Although there are cool-season ornamental grasses that grow roots in the cooler periods of both spring and fall, it is best to wait until spring to plant them.  They will be using their energy for those beautiful fall plumes.

I feel some fall fever coming on!

Published in the Sanford Herald.