To Plant or Not to Plant, Is Planting in the Fall a Good Idea?

Its that time of year when the nurseries put their plants on sale and who doesn't love a good sale. I have clients asking if now really is a good time to put those bargain plants in their yards. And it all depends. We can have dry winters here. Last fall I ended up hauling buckets of water out to our new plants just to keep them alive. I also kept chasing the deer away and we still lost a couple of plants. New plants are more susceptible to drought, cold and browsing damage. The less  time they have to establish, the easier they are to lose. There are a few things to consider when looking at planting in the fall.

First, if it is a dry winter, are you willing to make sure the plants are still getting water? Its cold, wetter and the plants are dormant, but they will still need regular water to come back to life in the spring. If there is no way you are willing to haul water or drag a hose, then wait to plant until spring.

Second, fall planting can give your plants a great boost for the next years growing season and get them more established and heat tolerant sooner. So, if spring is going to be busy, then maybe fall is a good time for you. If you are looking for those plants to grow fast, than fall is a good option.

Third, what kind of plant is it? Trees and large shrubs do fairly well with fall plantings. Smaller shrubs, perennials, and less cold tolerant plants do not. I had over 50% of one plant, a lilac broom, die during the winter when planted in the fall, though the other species planted at the same time had very little death. Some plants just do not do well being planted in the fall. A good nursery manager should be able to tell you which plants will fair better being planted in the fall.

Fourth, watch the weather. We may not be able to predict what kind of winter we will have with temperatures and rain, though the weathermen will try, but listen to the predictions and pay attention to what the plants are doing. Does it look like we will have an Indian Summer? or an early winter? If fall is looking warm and wet, then plant. If the leaves are already turning and the rains aren't coming, then it may be better to wait until spring. Are they forecasting a cold, wet winter with lots of wind? Then maybe it is best to wait, not only will the plants have a harder time, but the deer will be hungrier too.

Fifth, be realistic with yourself. New plants require care, especially for the first six months. When are you going to have the most time to watch and care for the new plants? Will you remember to water one little shrub in the middle of winter? Will your automatic sprinklers be able to water things regularly in the summer? And no matter when you plant, always place three inches of bark mulch around the new plants (though not touching the trunk) to keep them the right temperature and to help control the moisture level in the soil.