TO PLANT IN FALL
I, of course have perennials here that will not winter over, I have been wanting to plant in my 2 front flower beds but haven't done that yet, so is it too late to plant perennials? I found this article so it fired me up to try to plant the perennials this fall. I will have my helper come on Saturday to help weed, get the ground ready and plant. What will I lose? Plants that might come back and fill the bed with color, the weeding will be done for next spring, and it will be cleaned up for the winter. I guess a good plan. We will see how it goes. So if you are thinking of doing this? Moving plants, having some pass along plants to plant go ahead and try it even for us in zone 4.
Why should spring get all the glory? While you might not think of fall as a time to get outside and plant new perennials, it actually presents a golden opportunity to do just that. Not only is it bargain time for many perennials at the garden store, the growing conditions are perfect for establishing roots.
In autumn the garden’s peak is fresh in your mind, so it’s easy to remember where you need to add some pizzazz. Remember that dead spot you noticed in midsummer? How about the garden bed that needs a splash of yellow or blue? Now is the time to address those areas.
In Zones 6 and 7, the cool-down period starts around the end of September, about six weeks before the first fall frost. This is the ideal time to start your fall plants. In Zones 3 to 5, you’ll want to plant earlier if you can. And of course, Zones 8 to 11 can pretty much plant year-round without a problem. (Lucky!) Still, you want to get an early start to give roots time to get established.
Frost might seem like your biggest fall planting challenge, but it’s actually not a huge problem. Yes, frost will kill the tops of your new plants, but it won’t affect the root growth. The roots will grow until the soil freezes solid, which is often weeks or even months after the first frost hits. In temperate regions—everywhere but the far North and the high mountains—soil usually doesn’t freeze until after Thanksgiving.
In spring the soil is cold, so the roots of newly planted perennials grow slowly. In fall the soil is warm, so roots grow faster. Since the plants don’t produce flowers, they have more energy for sending vigorous roots into the soil of their new home. Do your part by planting new perennials in good soil and watering thoroughly. By the time the growing season rolls around again, they’ll be happily settled.
Wait until the soil freezes hard, then spread a few inches of mulch around your perennials—not to prevent soil from freezing, but to keep it from thawing. Roots that aren’t solidly anchored can “frost heave” out of the soil when the ground freezes and thaws, putting the plant in danger of getting killed by cold. Once mulch is on, you’re all set. Even if a few of your new perennials don’t make it, you’re probably still coming out ahead. Fall planting gives you a big jump on spring gardening, so you have more time in the busy season.
List of perennials to plant in the fall
Aster
Astilbe
Balloonflower
Bearded iris
Bee balm
Bergenia
Bleeding heart
Brunnera
Campanula
Catmint
Columbine
Daylilies
Dianthus
Echinacea
Ferns
Goldenrod
Hardy geraniums
Hosta
Lady’s mantle
Lamb’s ear
Lilies
Monkshood
Native asters
Oriental poppies
Penstemon
Peonies
Perennial
sunflowers
Phlox
Sea holly
Sedums
Siberian iris
Read more: http://birdsandblooms.com/gardening/gardening-basics/gardening-basics-planting-perennials-fall/#ixzz4LNgrzarx
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa
I, of course have perennials here that will not winter over, I have been wanting to plant in my 2 front flower beds but haven't done that yet, so is it too late to plant perennials? I found this article so it fired me up to try to plant the perennials this fall. I will have my helper come on Saturday to help weed, get the ground ready and plant. What will I lose? Plants that might come back and fill the bed with color, the weeding will be done for next spring, and it will be cleaned up for the winter. I guess a good plan. We will see how it goes. So if you are thinking of doing this? Moving plants, having some pass along plants to plant go ahead and try it even for us in zone 4.
Why should spring get all the glory? While you might not think of fall as a time to get outside and plant new perennials, it actually presents a golden opportunity to do just that. Not only is it bargain time for many perennials at the garden store, the growing conditions are perfect for establishing roots.
In autumn the garden’s peak is fresh in your mind, so it’s easy to remember where you need to add some pizzazz. Remember that dead spot you noticed in midsummer? How about the garden bed that needs a splash of yellow or blue? Now is the time to address those areas.
In Zones 6 and 7, the cool-down period starts around the end of September, about six weeks before the first fall frost. This is the ideal time to start your fall plants. In Zones 3 to 5, you’ll want to plant earlier if you can. And of course, Zones 8 to 11 can pretty much plant year-round without a problem. (Lucky!) Still, you want to get an early start to give roots time to get established.
Frost might seem like your biggest fall planting challenge, but it’s actually not a huge problem. Yes, frost will kill the tops of your new plants, but it won’t affect the root growth. The roots will grow until the soil freezes solid, which is often weeks or even months after the first frost hits. In temperate regions—everywhere but the far North and the high mountains—soil usually doesn’t freeze until after Thanksgiving.
In spring the soil is cold, so the roots of newly planted perennials grow slowly. In fall the soil is warm, so roots grow faster. Since the plants don’t produce flowers, they have more energy for sending vigorous roots into the soil of their new home. Do your part by planting new perennials in good soil and watering thoroughly. By the time the growing season rolls around again, they’ll be happily settled.
Wait until the soil freezes hard, then spread a few inches of mulch around your perennials—not to prevent soil from freezing, but to keep it from thawing. Roots that aren’t solidly anchored can “frost heave” out of the soil when the ground freezes and thaws, putting the plant in danger of getting killed by cold. Once mulch is on, you’re all set. Even if a few of your new perennials don’t make it, you’re probably still coming out ahead. Fall planting gives you a big jump on spring gardening, so you have more time in the busy season.
List of perennials to plant in the fall
Aster
Astilbe
Balloonflower
Bearded iris
Bee balm
Bergenia
Bleeding heart
Brunnera
Campanula
Catmint
Columbine
Daylilies
Dianthus
Echinacea
Ferns
Goldenrod
Hardy geraniums
Hosta
Lady’s mantle
Lamb’s ear
Lilies
Monkshood
Native asters
Oriental poppies
Penstemon
Peonies
Perennial
sunflowers
Phlox
Sea holly
Sedums
Siberian iris
Read more: http://birdsandblooms.com/gardening/gardening-basics/gardening-basics-planting-perennials-fall/#ixzz4LNgrzarx
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa
