5 Reasons Why Fall Is The Best Time to Plant

by Amanda

fall is the best time to plant

Although spring is often thought of as the best time to plant, adding perennials, bulbs, wildflowers and shrubs to the garden in the fall gives plants a head start for their first season. We’ve put together our top five reasons why we love fall planting.

1. Perennial Plants And Wildflowers Get A Jump-Start On Spring Growth.

Planting perennials and wildflowers in the fall gives them a head start on growth the following spring. The colder weather in fall causes less stress on your new plants, allowing for the root systems to establish themselves in a comfortable environment before the winter. In spring, root systems will start to grow once the ground thaws, long before the soil can be worked by human hands and any new plants can be put in. This head-start means early season wildflowers first-season perennials will be able to show their flowers sooner!

Shop Easy-To-Grow Perennials

Injecting energy into the late-season garden, Orange Tiger Lily is easy to grow and a magnet for pollinators. Freckled tangerine flowers grow in a mass atop the tall, slender stems, ...
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Orange Tiger Lily Orange Tiger Lily Lilium lancifolium, Lilium tigrinum
As low as $13.32
Per Bag of 3

Injecting energy into the late-season garden, Orange Tiger Lily is easy to grow and a magnet for pollinators. Freckled tangerine flowers grow in a mass atop the tall, slender stems, beckoning to butterflies. Demure downward-facing petals curve back on themselves, protecting its pollen from rain. Orange Tiger Lilies efficiently spreads in the garden, creating large clusters and bountiful blooms over time. (Lilium lancifolium)
Our Low Maintenance Daylily Collection features six popular eye-catching Daylily varieties. Bright summer blooms feature all the colors of a vivid summer sunset, from soft white to c...
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Low Maintenance Daylily Collection Low Maintenance Daylily Collection Hemerocallis
$109.32 Sale $101.99
Per Collection of 18

Our Low Maintenance Daylily Collection features six popular eye-catching Daylily varieties. Bright summer blooms feature all the colors of a vivid summer sunset, from soft white to clear yellow, bold orange, and peachy pink, and brilliant red. A mix of sizes will give your planting interesting variety, and graceful arching foliage adds attractive texture all season long. Spreading gently over time, Daylilies are a great garden investment! Collection of 18 bare root plants.
‚Goldsturm‚ Black Eyed Susan brings a burst of showy color to the full-sun garden. Golden yellow, daisy-like petals surround nectar-rich, brown center ‚buttons&sbqu...
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Goldsturm Black Eyed Susan Black Eyed Susan Goldsturm Rudbeckia fulgida Goldsturm
As low as $7.99
Per Plant - 3" Pot

'Goldsturm' Black Eyed Susan brings a burst of showy color to the full-sun garden. Golden yellow, daisy-like petals surround nectar-rich, brown center 'buttons' set atop deep green foliage. Unbothered by most pests, poor soils, drought and humidity, 'Goldsturm' is easygoing and the perfect addition to flower arrangements and pollinator gardens. Deer resistant and long-lasting. (Rudbeckia fulgida)
We designed the Easy Care Garden to give you striking, colorful flowers that look beautiful together without making many demands on your time. Although these are the easiest-to-care-...
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Easy Care Pre-Planned Garden Easy Care Pre-Planned Garden
$218.65 Sale $203.99
Per Garden of 27

We designed the Easy Care Garden to give you striking, colorful flowers that look beautiful together without making many demands on your time. Although these are the easiest-to-care-for plants we know of, there’s been no compromise in the looks department! Dramatic blooms like torch lily, rudbeckia, and campanula deliver interest throughout the summer season. This Pre-Planned Garden comes with a garden layout map to make planting easy.

2. Provide Crucial Support For Pollinators.

With earlier blooms comes earlier nectar sources for pollinators! Birds, bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects can struggle to find food at the extreme ends of the gardening season. By providing early-spring and autumn nectar supplies, you'll be doing your part to support pollinators! This is important in protecting the human food supply as well, as we rely on pollinators for healthy harvests of fruits and vegeatbles to put on our own dinner tables!

Shop Wildflowers To Attract Pollinators

Plant your support for the disappearing pollinator population in your own backyard with our Northeast Pollinator Mix. This easy-to-grow blend is designed to provide food and habitat ...
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Northeast Pollinator Wildflower Seed Mix Northeast Pollinator Wildflower Seed Mix
As low as $14.95
Per 1/4 Pound

Plant your support for the disappearing pollinator population in your own backyard with our Northeast Pollinator Mix. This easy-to-grow blend is designed to provide food and habitat to northeastern pollinators throughout the length of the growing season. Annual and perennial wildflowers like New England Aster, Black Eyed Susan, Milkweed, Coreopsis and Cosmos provide pollen, nectar and shelter for hundreds of important species, including Monarch butterflies and native bees. Contains only 100% pure, non-GMO and neonicotinoid-free seeds, best for planting in CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, WV, QC and the Eastern Townships. Guaranteed to grow.
Attract and support pollinators found in the southeast all season long with the Southeast Pollinator Wildflower Seed Mix. Colorful favorites like Clasping Coneflower, Sulphur Cosmos,...
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Southeast Pollinator Wildflower Seed Mix Southeast Pollinator Wildflower Seed Mix
As low as $14.95
Per 1/4 Pound

Attract and support pollinators found in the southeast all season long with the Southeast Pollinator Wildflower Seed Mix. Colorful favorites like Clasping Coneflower, Sulphur Cosmos, Butterfly Weed, and Red Poppy are easy to grow and provide habitat and breeding grounds for a variety of pollinators. This mix contains 100% pure, non-GMO, neonicotinoid-free seeds for planting in: AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, Eastern TX and VA.
With its abundance of nectar-rich blooms, the Butterfly & Hummingbird Wildflower Seed Mix can be planted to attract beautiful pollinators in any region of the country. Containing 16 ...
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Butterfly & Hummingbird Wildflower Seed Mix Butterfly and Hummingbird Wildflower Seed Mix
As low as $9.95
Per 1/4 Pound

With its abundance of nectar-rich blooms, the Butterfly & Hummingbird Wildflower Seed Mix can be planted to attract beautiful pollinators in any region of the country. Containing 16 annual and perennial wildflowers including Wild Cosmos, Rocket Larkspur, Echinacea and Catchfly, this diverse blend delivers stunning color throughout the season. A great choice for a variety of soil types, this mix contains only 100% pure, non-GMO and neonicotinoid-free seeds. Guaranteed to grow.
A field of Lupine is an amazing sight, with spiky blooms of saturated indigo-blue that last from late spring to summer. Combine them with later-blooming flowers (like Shasta Daisy an...
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Perennial Lupine Seeds Perennial Lupine Lupinus perennis
As low as $17.95
Per 1/4 Pound

A field of Lupine is an amazing sight, with spiky blooms of saturated indigo-blue that last from late spring to summer. Combine them with later-blooming flowers (like Shasta Daisy and Rudbeckia) for an extended season of color. Growing to be about 12-36” tall, Lupine is a great choice for the front of the meadow or garden bed. Extremely easy to grow and deer resistant, this perennial flower blooms year after year. Seeds are 100% pure, non-GMO, neonicotinoid-free and guaranteed to grow.

3. Enjoy The Cooler Weather.

If the hot, sweaty weather isn’t for you, try gardening in the fall! The crisp, cool air makes for an enjoyable, leisurely experience working in the garden.

4. Use Less Water.

Cooler weather helps to eliminate evaporation. Plus, shorter days mean that photosynthesis slows down as well, meaning that your new plants require less water than if planted in the spring.

5. Give Spring-Blooming Bulbs A Chance To Chill.

Do you love colorful varieties such as tulips, daffodils and more? These spring-blooming bulbs need to be planted in the fall, because they require a wintering-over time to provide gorgeous, cheerful spring blooms. (Not to worry - if you live in a warm climate, you can chill spring blooming bulbs in your refrigerator.)

Annika is a wildflower tulip cultivar with a romantic coloration that shifts from soft buff pink to a deeper rose pink as the flower age. Deep purple centers are like a faded ink blo...
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Annika Tulip Annika Lady Tulip Tulipa clusiana 'Annika'
As low as $18.66 Sale $13.99
Per Bag of 15

Annika is a wildflower tulip cultivar with a romantic coloration that shifts from soft buff pink to a deeper rose pink as the flower age. Deep purple centers are like a faded ink blot. Each bulb will send up 2-3 flowers on dainty stems, kicking off Tulip season with a burst of blooms in early to mid spring. A bee-friendly bulb with a strong tendency to spread and naturalize in grassy areas or rock gardens. (Tulipa clusiana)
The Barrett Browning Small Cupped Daffodil is named for poet Elizabeth Barret Browning, who penned the famous line “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” True to it...
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Barrett Browning Small Cupped Daffodil Barrett Browning Small Cupped Daffodil Narcissus 'Barrett Browning'
As low as $11.99 Sale $8.99
Per Bag of 8

The Barrett Browning Small Cupped Daffodil is named for poet Elizabeth Barret Browning, who penned the famous line “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” True to its namesake, this cultivar has been a beloved favorite since its introduction in 1945. Blooming in mid-spring, it is an early season delight with broad, crisp white petals contrast a frilled tangerine-orange cup. Winner of the Wister Award for outstanding garden daffodils from the American Daffodil Society. (Narcissus)
Red Hunter Tulip, also called Wisley Tulip, features brilliant red flowers around a black center. Starting Tulip season with a pop of color and blooming longer than most species tuli...
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Red Hunter Tulip Red Hunter Tulip or Wisley Tulip Tulipa linifolia (Batalinii Group) 'Red Hunter'
As low as $15.99 Sale $11.99
Per Bag of 15

Red Hunter Tulip, also called Wisley Tulip, features brilliant red flowers around a black center. Starting Tulip season with a pop of color and blooming longer than most species tulips, its mid-to-late spring flowers are surrounded by narrow, upright, silver-green leaves. Plant at the front of the garden or in containers, where the scarlet flowers and attractive foliage will catch your eye. Winner of the RHS Award of Garden of Merit. (Tulipa linifolia Batalinii Group)
With deep plum blooms with a rich fragrance, Woodstock Hyacinth is a gorgeous addition to the spring garden. The warm purple blossoms will complement bright yellow daffodils and pair...
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Woodstock Hyacinth Woodstock Hyacinth Hyacinthus orientalis 'Woodstock'
As low as $11.99 Sale $8.99
Per Bag of 6

With deep plum blooms with a rich fragrance, Woodstock Hyacinth is a gorgeous addition to the spring garden. The warm purple blossoms will complement bright yellow daffodils and pair nicely with jewel-toned tulips. Early-to-mid-spring blooms are known for attracting bees with plentiful nectar. Plant in the front of the garden or in containers to enjoy the sight and scent of Woodstock Hyacinth. (Hyacinth orientalis)