ARTY'S GARDEN: Fall is for Planting

Originally published in the Oct. 16, 2013,issue

 

Fall is the ideal time to plant most trees, shrubs and perennials in Georgia. This comes as a surprise to many people, especially those who have moved from up north and think only of fall as the time to clean away debris from the summer garden and prepare for winter’s cold.

 

Trycirtis hirta, or hairy toad lily, produces
exotic-looking flowers in the fall. Autumn is the
ideal time to plant it and other perennials, trees
and shrubs.

Here in Georgia, root growth on hardy plants continues in the fall and into early winter. With the soil still warm enough to allow root growth and the cool air temperatures discouraging top growth, a fall-planted tree, shrub or perennial can put its energies into laying down a foundation of roots that will supply water and nutrients during the rapid period of spring top growth and during hot, dry summer weather. It will be better prepared to deal with these challenges than its spring-planted counterparts which will be putting out leaves and growing on top while they are also trying to establish roots. This is why spring-planted specimens always require more watering their first spring and summer than those planted in the fall.   

 

Although trees, shrubs and perennials can be planted any time the ground is not frozen, do yourself and your plants a favor by planting in the fall. With reduced water usage, you may even save some money by having a lower water bill.

 

Another advantage of fall planting is that it frees more time in the spring to do other things such as fighting the season’s onslaught of weeds or planting and sowing summer-flowering annuals and the spring vegetable garden.

 

Visiting Georgia nurseries in the fall also gives you the opportunity to see some plants you may have missed in the spring. Late-bloomers such as trycirtis and native asters that didn’t look like much in April are now in full glory. Seeing them may convince you to aim for having a garden that is as filled with flowers in autumn as it is in spring and summer.

 

With benefits for the plants as well as for you and your pocketbook, follow the advice of horticulturists throughout the Peach State: fall is for planting!

 

Other chores gardeners should attend to in the fall are:

• Keep birdbaths filled. Species migrating back to the tropics especially need a source of fresh water. 
• Set out pansies and violas for continuous blooms all winter. 
• Bring in houseplants. Don’t wait until frost is predicted. Begin bringing them in when night temperatures are consistently in the 50s.
• Begin dormancy treatment for amaryllises.
• Mulch around shrubs and other plants with fallen leaves. 
• Plant spring-blooming bulbs such as daffodils, tulips and hyacinths. Don’t be afraid to try something you’ve never tried before.

Arty Schronce is the Department’s resident gardening expert. He’s a lifelong gardener and a horticulture graduate of North Carolina State University who encourages everyone to discover the pleasures of plants and gardening.