With nightfall arriving a little earlier every day, and daytime temperatures are no longer sustained 90+, that means only one thing! Fall is approaching! Fall is an ideal time for planting a great variety of beautiful and delicious things in your garden. In addition, the weather during this period is also easier on gardeners working outdoors in the sun. Nurseries and garden centers shift their focus from pretty spring flowers to fall veggies and hardy perennials.
With cooler day time temperatures Autumn is also a great time to plant your Peonies, trees & shrubs, Perennials, and divide the Hosta plants. Direct sunlight will be less likely to singe plants, but soil temperatures are still conducive for growth. Fall planting is very important to those who are either changing or establishing a garden, as some of the most beautiful plants will emerge with Spring; Spring-blooming bulbs are best planted during Autumn, as these plants requires a cold period of dormancy before blooming the following season. For homeowners with peckish garden 
dwelling critters, certain varieties are far less appetizing than others so you may want to consider Daffodil or Fritillaria for example.
Turf-grass establishes very well in the fall, especially bluegrass & fescue. Vegetables like Carrots, Kale, and Radishes will also thrive in the cool fall weather. Crops that are for the fall harvest us usually best planted in early August to give them time to mature; Cool season veggies are typically quite hardy by nature anyways. Most crops planted in the spring can be re-planted in the fall, as they will still flourish with warm soil – seed packages will usually indicate how long any given plant will take to reach maturity, which you can use to count backwards from the first forecasted hard frost. (Garlic and onions can even be left in the ground over winter and harvested in spring!)
Any planting installed during the fall should be carefully watered until the ground freezes – ensuring a healthy and strong root-ball before dormancy. Remove spent flowers, or till the organic matter into the soil, to free up the remaining resources and maintain a balanced Nitrogen level. A very useful resource is the Plant Hardiness Map provided by the USDA. CLICK HERE! This map displays the hardiness zone of any given region based on the average annual minimum winter temperature.
A beautiful garden does not have to disappear with summer, and if you have been considering some lawn or shrub work now may be the best time. Dressing your autumn landscape with Mums will keep the color in your garden brighter for longer.
Contact LCM PLUS today and let us help you design an appealing fall garden.
