Your guide to Autumn Planting
As summer fades, the planting season is far from over. Warm soil and cooler air create ideal conditions to put new roots in the ground. Whether you want an immediate surge of seasonal color or want to lay the groundwork for a stunning spring show, here is what to plant during September and October.
Instant Autumn Color
Brighten up your entryway and garden beds with immediate blooms. These fall favorites thrive in crisp autumn air and deliver vibrant color right when summer flowers start to fade:
Chrysanthemums (Mums): The quintessential fall favorite. Choosing plants with tightly closed buds ensures maximum bloom time across rich rusts, deep purples, and golden yellows straight through late autumn.
Pansies & Violas: Cool-weather powerhouses that thrive as nighttime temperatures drop, delivering bright, bold colors through early winter frosts and frequently bouncing back for a bonus display in spring.
Ornamental Cabbage & Kale: Famous for ruffled textures and intense centers of cream, pink, and deep violet. Their foliage actually grows richer and more vibrant as cooler weather sets in.
Asters: Late-season bloomers that flood gardens with deep purples, blues, and magentas right when summer flowers start to fade, offering essential support for late-season pollinators.
Plant Today, Bloom Next Year
Autumn is a prime window to establish long-term growth. Getting these plants into the ground now allows roots to develop over winter for a beautiful display next spring:
Spring Bulbs (Tulips, Daffodils, & Alliums): Autumn is prime bulb-planting time. Nestling them into cool soil lets them develop strong root systems through winter so they can burst into vibrant early spring blooms.
Peonies: Fall is the ideal window to establish bare-root or container peonies. Settling them now gives root systems time to anchor, leading to stronger stems and lush May blossoms.
Perennials (Coneflowers, Black-Eyed Susans, & Salvia): Autumn planting removes the stress of summer heat. Roots focus energy on expanding underground, guaranteeing larger, more resilient plants next spring.
Hardy Shrubs (Oakleaf Hydrangeas & Viburnums): Fall soil conditions and seasonal rains help native shrubs establish deep root networks before winter dormancy, setting the stage for striking foliage and heavy spring flowering.
Prefer to sit back and enjoy a stunning yard without doing any of the heavy lifting?
Let our expert team handle all the soil prep, design, and planting for you. Reach out today for a free estimate, and let’s get your landscape perfectly prepped before winter sets in!