Did you know that October and November can be some of the best months of the year for planting a garden? The soil is typically warmer during in the fall, and the recent rains have loosened the soil making it much easier to work with. The cooler temperatures also make it more comfortable to work outdoors. With these positive conditions, we wanted to share the top fall gardening tips you need to know:
Get a Head Start on Spring: Fall is the best time plant spring bulbs – six to eight weeks before the first hard frost in your area. Great selections of spring bulbs can be found in stores right now. After planting, just wait until springtime flowers to appear!
Load Up the Fertilizer: Fertilizer is important for a healthy garden and now is best time to spread on the nutrients. Fertilizer helps the garden store much needed energy for the winter and improves hardiness. Proactive fertilizing in the fall brings successful gardens in the spring!
Fall Plants: Create a bountiful fall garden by planting seasonal veggies such as carrots, spinach and lettuces suggests Better Homes & Gardens. There also are many plant varieties, such as pansies, mums, and shrubs, that will add color to your garden and can survive the chilly winter.
No yard? No problem! We’ve also got tips for indoor or patio plants:
From Yard to Patio or Window: Fall plants don’t have to be in a yard to thrive! Plant seasonal favorites like pansies, mums, or kale in containers or window boxes. According to Essential Home and Garden, hardy succulents, such as Sedum (Stonecrop) and Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks) are great additions too. Not only do they come in great fall colors, but they can survive cold temperatures as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit!
Head Indoors: Not all plants can endure the fall and winter temperatures. If feasible, create a plan to bring your favorite plants inside during cold months. It’s critical to acclimate them to indoor environments gradually, so try bringing your plants in at night over the course of two weeks – increasing the duration they spend indoors each time. After two weeks, they should be ready to be indoor plants!
Humidify: Did you know that humid air helps plants store water? Higher humidity means less watering! You can group containers of similar plants together to increase humidity or consider using a humidifier. Misting plants or watering them only when the soil is dry should also do the trick!
With cooler weather on the way, you don’t have to give up on gardening or your plants. Use these tips to prepare for fall and you’ll reap the benefits for weeks and months to come. We believe it’s how you live that matters and love seeing our residents and homeowners create beautiful spaces both outdoors and indoors. Share your favorite fall gardening tips on our Facebook page as well. Happy fall!
