One of the more common questions we get at this time of year is “Can we plant now?” “Isn’t it too late?” The perception seems to be that all planting has to occur in spring. This is why we’re prefacing our Fall Promotions with “Plant It All in the Fall”.
Avid gardeners recognize that Autumn and even late Summer is an opportunity to get a start on next year. Most of the root development for trees and shrubs occurs at this time of year. In fact, they will establish a significant portion of the roots necessary for growth the following spring. This is true for most perennials, and bulbs as well.
Another perception that concerns me is how plants respond to winter. The common perception is that winter kills plants. This is very far from the truth. As a nurseryman, the most stressful time of year for us is the summer months. The stress of dry conditions with high temperatures, often keeps me awake at night. Almost all of the failures we experience are related to summer conditions when plants aren’t irrigated well or properly. Although winter will cause some damage to foliage, it’s rare that a tree or shrub will die as a result of cold temperatures.
Autumn provides perfect growing conditions with cooler temperatures, and adequate precipitation to assist with watering. Any plant that’s installed at this time of year, has an extra season to develop roots before the stress of summer. Fall plantings are more resilient than Spring plantings, during the first summer.
Remember there is NO bad time to plant as long as you can provide adequate watering. At Decker’s we plant 12 months out of the year as long as the ground isn’t frozen. We know that the plants are of high quality and they’re going to receive the necessary care.
Of course, one other benefit of planting in Fall is that plant costs are reduced. I encourage anyone that’s looking to enhance their landscape to visit Decker’s Nursery and take advantage of the vast selection that’s still available. The best selection is now and we’re going to continue the promotions for the rest of the month. We found homes for a lot of plants last weekend and hope we’ll see you soon!