Maximize Your Garden’s Potential: The Benefits of Planting in the Fall

How can you benefit from the many hours of spring and summer gardening and ensure a beautiful garden in 2023? Tips from Down to Earth Living in Pomona, NY.

While spring often takes the limelight as the planting season, adding perennials, wildflowers, and shrubs to the garden in the fall gives them a head start for the next growing season. As the days grow shorter and the air becomes crisp, fall presents an opportune time for landscaping. Planting trees and shrubs during the fall season offers numerous benefits, helping your new additions establish themselves and thrive in the years to come. Fall planting is a valuable investment in your home’s landscape!

Fall is a great time for planting not just perennials, wildflowers, and shrubs, but also vegetables and herbs—especially greens and root vegetables. The cooler temperatures and increased autumn rainfall create ideal conditions for new plants to thrive. With less need for watering and milder weather, fall planting can reduce costs and help new plants establish strong root systems before winter.
Fall planting also benefits local pollinators like birds, bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects, as these plants will bloom earlier in the spring, providing vital food sources. The season is just one key to gardening success—proper planting and care of new trees and shrubs are also essential.

Ideal Growing Conditions:

The cooler temperatures of fall provide ideal conditions for planting new trees and shrubs, as the warm soil from summer allows roots to grow and anchor before the ground freezes. This extended root development period gives the plants a head start for vigorous growth in the spring.

Reduced Stress on Plants:

Planting during the fall reduces the stress on both plants and gardeners alike. Unlike the scorching heat of summer or the harsh conditions of winter, fall provides a mild climate that minimizes the chances of heat stress and water evaporation. This allows newly planted trees and shrubs to adjust more comfortably, without the pressure of extreme weather conditions.

Ample Moisture Availability:

Fall often brings more frequent rainfall, providing a natural irrigation system for your newly planted additions. This abundance of moisture helps in the establishment process and reduces the need for constant watering. Additionally, the lower temperatures result in slower evaporation rates, allowing plants to absorb water effectively.

Less Susceptibility to Pests and Diseases:

During the fall, many pests and diseases that typically plague plants during the warmer months begin to decrease in activity. This means that newly planted trees and shrubs face a lower risk of encountering harmful organisms that could impede their growth.

Opportunity for Root Establishment:

Trees and shrubs planted in the fall can focus their energy on root establishment rather than expending resources on foliage and flower production. This enables them to develop strong and extensive root systems that provide a sturdy foundation for future growth.

Cost and Availability:

Fall is often considered the “off-season” for planting, which means that garden centers and nurseries might offer discounts on trees and shrubs as they make way for new inventory. This makes it a cost-effective time to invest in your landscaping endeavors.

Planting trees and shrubs in the fall comes with plenty of advantages. Cooler temperatures, increased rainfall, and fewer pests provide the perfect environment for healthy plant growth. When you plant in the fall, your trees and shrubs will have strong root systems established by spring, leading to new growth and beautiful blooms. Now is the ideal time to invest in the future of your landscape and ensure it thrives for years to come!

Have you been to Down to Earth Living?

This gracious outdoor living furnishings and beautiful home decor store is located at 1040 Route 45 in Pomona, New York (Rockland County), a short drive from Bergen, Orange, Westchester, and Fairfield Counties.

The garden center at Down to Earth Living is filled with perennials, flowers, shrubs, and trees, with new arrivals coming in every week. The 10,000 square foot showroom has an incredible selection of contemporary, classic, traditional, and transitional teak, aluminum and all-weather dining and deep-seated furniture, as well as home décor.

Down to Earth Living is open 9:00 am-5:00 pm daily. For more information, call 845-354-8500 or visit dtliving.com.

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