Fall Gardening in the Northern Hemisphere

Just because chain stores and smaller independents close their garden centers mid-summer doesn’t mean you have to stop planting. Trees, shrubs and perennials can be planted in the fall with great success. There are many benefits to fall planting. The biggest advantage is that the soil is still toasty warm & the days are slightly cooler, the perfect recipe for vigorous root growth. The plant can put its energy into rooting because it is slowing down & getting ready to go dormant for the winter. By comparison, in the spring the plant is putting much of its energy into its budding process and the production of new growth (and in the case of flowering plants, the production of flowers uses huge amounts of the plants energy). The ideal fall planting time is late August to late October, with many of the tougher plants being safe to plant into November. The key to success with late planting is to apply sufficient amounts of mulch. The mulch can extend the plants rooting time by 3-4 weeks, as it prevents the ground from freezing and keeps the soil at a more even temperature. Another huge advantage to fall planting is that we tend to get more rain and the plants do not have to suffer through long periods of drought while they are getting established. It is critical that a plant not be dry when it goes into freeze. Shrubs with fine fibrous root systems should be avoided after mid October as they need more time to put their roots in (examples are: Rhododendrons, Heaths & Heathers, Blueberries, etc). Plants that do not successfully root out are more susceptible to frost heave. Trees, shrubs and perennials are equally successful when planted through the summer months as long as they are well watered through hot, dry spells. Remember, no matter when you plant, site selection (right plant for the right place) is first and foremost.

Welcome to the Artists by Nature blog

Welcome to our blog! The management and staff at Oceanview Garden and Landscaping has launched this blog to create our virtual Artists by Nature Garden Club. Oceanview Garden Centre and Landscaping is committed to enhancing the natural beauty around us in the most creative way possible to meet or exceed our customer’s expectations. We invite you to share in the professional knowledge we will share on this website and welcome all comments and discussion on the latest in gardening and gardening technical advice.