Consider putting these flowers, bushes and trees on your fall planting list.
8 Outdoor Plants to Get Ready for the Fall
Updated on Sep. 27, 2024
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Holly
Prized for their shiny, evergreen leaves and red berries, holly bushes are a low-maintenance addition to your garden. Fall is a great time to plant hollies. The cool, seasonal temperatures, followed by months of winter, give them a chance to establish strong roots before facing the heat of summer.
Plan to plant hollies at least six weeks before the first frost to avoid killing new transplants. If wind exposure will be an issue, consider wrapping hollies in burlap to protect them from harsh winter conditions.
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Azalea
Flowering shrubs known for their colorful blooms in early spring, azaleas are a popular choice among gardeners. They come in both deciduous and evergreen varieties of many shapes and color blooms.
Planting azaleas in the fall while the soil is still warm and new growth has slowed allows the roots to flourish. “Fall’s a great time to plant azaleas,” Laterreur says. “Your patience will be rewarded with blooms early the following spring.”
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Chrysanthemums (mums)
Chrysanthemums, or “mums,” as they’re often called, are the quintessential fall plant. One of the few that blooms in the fall, mums will return year after year if planted in the ground. Mums prefer to be planted in the early part of the season, which allows for the plant to establish a hardy root system that will survive the winter. “Planting them in fall while they’re in bloom gives you an instant pop of color in your garden, too,” Corbett says.
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Tulips
Grown from bulbs, tulips are a popular spring-blooming flower known for their vibrant colors.
In order for tulips to grow and bloom, they must be planted in the fall. “Tulips need a period of dormancy before they can grow in the warm spring temperatures,” Corbett says. “The cold winter months are key to strong, healthy flowers in the spring.” If possible, plant tulip bulbs in late fall. The cooler temperatures help prevent fungal growth and reduce the risk of squirrels and chipmunks digging them up.
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Maple tree
A maple tree is a deciduous tree known for its iconic fall foliage of red, orange and yellow leaves. There are many varieties of maple trees, and most do best in well-draining soil and full sun.
Fall is the best time to plant maple trees, as the cool air and warm soil stop foliage growth and direct energy to root development. This allows the tree to be well-rooted by spring and ready for the growing season. For best results, plant maple tree saplings in the fall after they have lost their leaves.
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Lilac
Lilacs are a flowering, woody shrub known for their fragrant, early spring blooms. A very hardy plant, once established, lilacs require very little upkeep to continue to flourish. Planting lilacs in the fall gives them a good chance to establish roots before winter.
It’s best to plant lilacs when the sapling is dormant and has dropped its leaves, but well before the first frost. This allows the plant to direct its energy toward root growth before growing new leaves in the spring.
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Crabapple
Crabapple trees are a type of apple tree usually grown for their beautiful spring blooms rather than their small, tart fruit. Planting crabapple trees in the fall promotes strong root growth for a more resilient plant in the spring. The warm, moist soil typical of the fall allows the plant to get established before the hot summer months, increasing its likelihood of survival.
Plant a container-grown crabapple tree where it will get at least six hours of sunlight daily. Water it weekly during the first full season after planting.
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Hydrangea
A popular flowering shrub known for its large, colorful clusters of blooms, hydrangeas do well in most soil types and are easy to cultivate. Most bloom continuously throughout the growing season, adding vibrant color to any garden. Hydrangeas are a great fall plant, but “make sure to get them in the ground about six weeks before the first hard frost,” Corbett says. This gives the roots a chance to recover from the shock of transplanting and begin to grow before cold temperatures set in.
About the Experts
- Joyce Corbett is the owner of Classic Courtyards in West Springfield, Massachusetts. She has over forty years of landscaping design and installation experience.
- Ricky Laterreur is the owner of Laterreur Landscapes and Gardens in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. He offers hardscaping and landscaping services and has over fifteen years of industry experience.
Sources
- University of New Hampshire Extension “Is fall a good time to plant trees and shrubs?“
