Fall is an excellent time for planting many of our favorite trees, shrubs and perennials. Sometimes it is confusing to see all the beautiful flowers at the garden centers in the spring, but remember those plants were also planted in the fall and winter for the spring show! Get ahead of the curve for next year and get your plants in the ground now!

When is “fall”?

Fall is generally characterized by when the days begin to get noticeably shorter, the night temperatures start to get cooler and there is a golden tint to the leaves. Sometimes there is an uptick in rain (though the fall of 2024 has been incredibly dry!). Climatologists consider September through November as Autumn and, according to the calendar, September 21 is the autumnal equinox. That being said, the gardening “fall” can begin in early September or as late as early October, and is marked by how chilly the temperatures are. This chilling signals to plants, along with the change in light and rain, that it is time to go dormant.

Why is fall the best time to plant?

The temperatures are cooler, there is generally more rain on the horizon and most plants are starting to go dormant anyway. The fall and winter seasons give plants time to settle into their new homes and prepare for our famously hot summers! Our job as gardeners is to help plants adapt to our gardens through our cultural practices. Planting plants is stressful to them, and when we can pick a time when they are not actively growing that helps them conserve energy and direct it towards overwintering structures. Plants are still producing roots and underground structures during the fall and winter months to prepare for the next growing season. If planting plants during cooler times, when they are going dormant, we are helping them be more efficient.

When is fall not the best time to plant?

This guidance is only effective in the case of non-tropical plants!!!!

Planting summer annuals or tropical plants in September or October will be a temporary stop-gap before the frost, because they could be killed by frost. Beware of “discount” plants! Some garden centers try to sell leftovers at the end of the season and discount them heavily. Some of these will not survive! You may have to overwinter them in a garage or greenhouse.

Some semi-tropical plants, like elephant ears and hibiscus, can survive our winters in central NC, but they need to be planted in the spring (around April), after threat of frost, to get established before the cold. If you need help judging the timing of planting your plants, please reach out to your local N.C. Cooperative Extension office.

Get Out There!

Don’t forget to prepare your planting area, and a good place to start is to do a soil test. Remember to water your new plants after you plant them, especially if we do not get any rain, and consider mulching with some kind of organic matter, like pine straw, hardwood shred, or this year’s fall leaf drop.

If you have been itching to add new plants to your landscape for next year’s garden, now is the time to go out to your local plant nursery, garden club plant swap, Extension Master Gardener plant sale and get them.

Amanda Bratcher is the Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Lee County.