Now that fall is here it is the perfect time to think of your outdoors as a beautiful, lively world all its own. We all agree that autumn is one of the best seasons for planting, as trees, shrubs, and perennials get an excellent start to the growing process. Eureka Farms will guide you in choosing just the perfect plants for your landscape because we know an autumn planting can result in year-long beauty.

Here's a closer look at the best fall plants for your garden:

Why Plant in Fall?

Fall planting has several advantages that make it an excellent time to invest in your landscape:

  1. Cooler air reduces stress on plants, while warm soil encourages root development.
  2. Plants that root in fall are often much healthier and more vigorous by spring.
  3. Most pests and weeds are far less active during the fall, allowing your plants the best chance to thrive in the garden. You can recharge with plants this fall!

Trees to Plant in the Fall

Trees can bring in much-needed shade, structure, and color according to seasonal changes. Planting in the fall allows them to create the best root structure before sprouting in spring. The list is as follows:

  • One of the trees that gardeners have come to love is the Japanese maple. They have beautiful forms and bright reds, oranges, and yellows. They show an excellent color display in the fall. You can plant red maple trees in your gardens. Growing and maintaining Japanese maple trees isn’t as hard as it looks. 
  • Fall would be particularly suitable for the red alder because it is a native species to the Pacific Northwest, with fast growth, shade, and nitrogen fixation properties. 
  • Dogwood can be planted in the fall.It's the Pacific dogwood that comes with bright red foliage color and white blossoms as a naturalizing plant adaptable in various environments.

Shrubs to Plant This Fall

Shrubs bring texture, color, and structure to gardens, hence being one of the essential plantings for fall. Here are some:

  • Camellias are ideal for shaded gardens in fall with their dark green leaves and brightly colored flowers of winter.
  • Oregon Grape is an evergreen shrub native to your area giving your landscape structure with yellow flowers in early spring. It's low maintenance and can take a beating.
  • Hydrangeas though sporting big and voluminous flowers are indeed one of the best diverse garden plants that could establish their roots when planted during the fall season for their late spring and summer periods.

Planting Perennials in Fall

Perennials are often an investment in long-term beauty, as they take relatively little care and return each year.

  • California lilac is an evergreen plant that thrives on the coast, can withstand dryness, and attracts bees and butterflies.
  • Ferns are also evergreen plants, rabbits foot ferns love moist shady environments and can bring much texture and beauty to any woodland-style garden design.
  • Lupines are native wildflowers that present spikes of yellow, purple, or blue blossoms, which are very showy. Plant them in the fall to encourage deep taproots and, therefore, a good performance for flowering in spring.

Grasses to Plant This Fall

  1. Tufted Hairgrass is native cool-season grass and is a versatile option, bringing an airy, light texture to the garden border.
  2. Blue Oat Grass has Silvery-blue foliage and drought tolerance will give quite a dramatic contrast with other plants in your garden.
  3. Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum)is ideal for drama in a container garden or mixed border with its arching purple plumes.

Fall Planting Tips from Eureka Farms

Follow these fall gardening tips and enjoy growing your fall garden: 

  • For good drainage, check soil pH and nutrient levels, adding amendments as needed. 
  • Mulch around plants, leaving a layer of about every few inches. This helps retain moisture in the soil, controls temperature and reduces weeds.
  • Even as rainfall increases in fall, monitor new plantings so they do not get parched during dry spells.
  • Begin planting early to mid-fall, so your plants have enough time to set up their roots before winter.

How to Buy Plants From Eureka Farms?

We are licensed for a full-scale nursery with an extensive inventory of landscaping trees, fruit trees, palm trees, and the largest houseplant collection. If you want to enhance your curb appeal or turn your porch into a class act, Eureka Farms can guide you on how to do it all, from topiary trees and hedges to everything in between. You can rest assured that we will handle the shipment with the utmost care across the country so that when your plants reach you, they will be as fresh as new. These indoor plants require less upkeep, improve home air cleanliness, brighten moods, and provide essential touches of the natural world to the work-from-home office. Happy Planting!