While the old adage “fall is for planting” is well-known, its full potential often goes untapped. Contrary to popular belief, spring isn’t the only ideal season to cultivate your garden. In fact, here in the mid-Atlantic, fall is a prime time to plant a variety of flora, from cool-weather vegetables to evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs. Yet, this optimal planting window frequently escapes the minds of many homeowners. Today, we’ll delve into the reasons why fall is the ideal planting season and provide a comprehensive guide to help you maximize your garden’s potential.
Why Fall is the Perfect Planting Season
While fall brings cooler air temperatures, the soil often remains warm, encouraging root growth. These roots then continue to grow through the winter until the ground freezes, or in areas with mild winters such as ours, roots may continue to grow all winter long.
In early spring, the roots will begin new growth or continue to develop at a faster rate, and top growth begins. While the same plant planted in spring gets a slow start due to cool soils, the fall-planted plants are becoming well-established. When summer finally arrives, the fall-planted plant is far better equipped to deal with heat and drought, largely due to its well-established root system.
Plus, there are plenty of other good reasons to plant in the fall, too, such as dependable rainfall, cooler weather, and fewer pest and disease problems. In addition, many plants are on sale at nurseries, which makes fall planting good for you, too!
When Should I Do My Fall Planting?
Fall officially begins with the autumnal equinox in late September. For optimal growth, aim to plant roughly six weeks before the first hard frost. In the mid-Atlantic, including Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and D.C., this typically falls around October 17th. However, we recommend regularly checking specific frost dates for your local area to ensure precise timing.
What To Plant in The Fall in Virginia
Fall Flowers
As summer’s hues fade, fall introduces a new palette of possibilities for your Virginia garden. Fall flowers like mums or ornamental cabbages and kales can add bursts of color into your yard. Pansies, often considered a spring bloom, thrive in the cool fall weather. Planted now, they’ll not only beautify your garden this season but also return even more spectacularly next spring.
Lawn Seed
Fall is the best time of the year to plant grass seed. The warm soil and cool air are ideal for establishing new grass. If you are going to renovate your lawn and you have to eliminate weeds, get going. You need at least two weeks to make sure that you have most of the weeds eliminated in your yard before you start to plant your seed. This is the best time to plant your new seed to have it established this fall.
Cool-Weather Crops
Take advantage of fall’s mild temperatures by tending to a variety of cool-weather vegetables. From crisp lettuce to hearty kale and broccoli, your garden can continue to produce fresh, flavorful produce well into the autumn months. Careful planning and frost protection will extend your harvest season.
Stock Up on Fall Gardening Supplies
Visit any of our local garden centers across Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia to discover a world of possibilities. Our expert staff is here to guide you through the planting process, ensuring you have the tools, plants, and knowledge you need to create a thriving outdoor space.