Fall Planting: Planning Your Perfect Garden
Last updated: May 30 2019
Key takeaways
Fall planting gives trees and shrubs time to establish roots in warm soil while cooler temperatures reduce stress on new plants.
Complete fall planting about six weeks before your area's first hard frost to give roots time to establish before winter.
Modern gardens feature clean lines and structured plants, while English cottage gardens emphasize colorful blooms and lush, romantic plantings.
Fall planting and garden planning can be daunting: changing temperatures, fluctuations in weather, and the arrival of a new season. But fall can be one of the best times to plant. And when you’ve got a vision of your dream garden, it’s even easier. How to make this dream achievable? Check out our recommendations for fall planting and types of gardens below. We’ll show you how to tackle your landscape, effortlessly!
Fall Planting
Spring isn’t the only time to plant – fall planting is surprisingly easy and efficient. The cooler temperatures of the season are better for both plants and gardeners. Plus, since the soil is still relatively warm, your plants’ roots will grow until the ground freezes. Less rain in the fall also means more days for planting, since fall weather tends to be a bit more predictable.
Best of all? No pest and disease problems, since hot weather is cooling off. And you don’t need fertilizer. Keep in mind that the window for fall planting does end around six weeks before your growing zone is hit with a hard frost (usually in September to October).
Trees and shrubs are ideal for fall planting, so check a few of ours out for your new garden.
Garden Design
Now that we’ve reviewed the benefits of fall planting, it’s time to get into a few, more popular garden types. Whether you’re looking for light and delicate, clean and trim or exotic, you’ve come to the right place.
Modern Gardens
Modern gardens put the spotlight on contemporary in a big way. This type of garden is perfect for ranch-style homes or mid-century modern construction. Clean lines, sharp details and sleek shapes are synonymous with these gardens.
Key Plants: Sedum Tile, American Boxwood, Topiaries, Yellow Twig Dogwood and more. Sleek, sharp lines and neat edges comprise the Modern Garden.
English and Cottage Gardens
Romantic and colorful, English Gardens offer a more timeless, traditional look. These cottage-style landscapes are known for their whimsical hues and lush green backdrops, perfect for older homes with more ornate exteriors.
Key Plants: Purple Wisteria, Hydrangeas, Rose Bushes, Camellias and more. Large, delicate blooms with lots of color are central.
Tropical Gardens
Venetian-inspired, light and lovely. Three words synonymous with Tropical Gardens. When you’re planning a Tropical Garden, you’re looking for lush greens with a few pops of warm, vibrant color. You’re looking for a beach-reminiscent, exotic design that will take your curb appeal to the next level.
Key Plants: Bird of Paradise, Palms, Plumeria, Bougainvillea and more. Oranges and reds with the backdrop of green fronds are essential to Tropical Gardens.
Grand, Gleaming Gardens
So, whether you’re going for an exotic look, clean edges or romantic, full design, we’ve got you covered. And with our plants, planning your garden and fall planting are both hassle-free.
Written by
Blair Brown
Blair is the Content Marketing Manager at Trees.com, and though she's not your traditional gardener, the planting world is definitely growing on her (pun intended!). She's enjoyed digging into plant care and maintenance and growing her plant collection, especially with exotic indoor varieties.
