Wednesday, October 07, 2015

By Barbara Pronin

There are distinct benefits to planting in the fall, say the garden experts at Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. The air is cooler but the soil is still warm, allowing roots to grow before the cold sets in. Pests and disease problems tend to fade away in the autumn, and plant prices fall at garden centers that are trying to sell out inventory before winter.

Good candidates for fall planting include:

• Spring bulbs – Spring-blooming bulbs need a period of cold dormancy to bloom, so planting bulbs in fall ensures a beautiful spring display. Especially hardy are daffodil, grape hyacinth, English bluebell and dog's-tooth violet.
• Pansies – By planting in fall, you'll get two seasons of enjoyment out of these cool-season favorites. Remove spent flowers so the plant doesn't use its energy to set seeds, and keep the soil moist.
• Cool season vegetables – Many vegetables thrive in cool weather, including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, radishes, rutabaga, spinach, and Swiss chard.  Many root crops taste sweetest when they're harvested after a frost.
• Turf grass – Fall is the best time to establish new turf grass. If you live in the North, cool-season grasses such as bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass should be fertilized in late October or early November to give a boost for earlier spring green-up. In the South, avoid fertilizing dormant warm-season grasses unless they have been over seeded with winter rye.
• Trees and shrubs – Before digging, it’s a good idea to check with local utility companies to locate any underground lines. Plant trees and shrubs at their natural soil lines. Keep newly planted trees or shrubs well-watered until the ground freezes so they get a good start before going dormant.
• Perennials – Peonies should always be planted in the fall. Plant them no deeper than two inches above the bud on the root. Check with your garden center about other good perennials to plant in the fall in your region.

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