Fall is For Planting

Where it all began… The ‘Fall is For Planting’ campaign made its debut on Long Island in the early 1980’s. It was a long-acknowledged practice within horticultural circles to plant trees, shrubs, bulbs, and perennials in the garden and landscape in the fall. Consumers thought spring was the only planting season. Then research and science stepped in to prove this long held belief for fall planting.

Field research was conducted on Long Island by local growers, public gardens, and Cornell University. To put their findings in simple words – fall is a great time for planting. Here’s why:

• Long Island typically enjoys long, mild falls.
• Soil moisture conditions usually improve. (This said after months of drought conditions.)
• Soil temperatures are favorable and encourage root growth until soil temperatures drop below 40 degrees F. Another plus, in some instances, we do not have frost in the soil until after the holidays.
• Plants have finished their flowering or fruiting cycles, so they concentrate on root growth – critical for new plants.

It is time to buy and plant spring flowering bulbs. Replace the trees and shrubs that have been on your ‘to do’ list for so long. Perennials planted now will reward you for years to come. Finish any turf reseeding. It will be several months before the snow flies. Even then, be happy to see snow – it is a source of much needed soil moisture and an insulator for the garden.