Blog Contributed by David West
We’re sharing a little gardening secret. Now that fall is officially here, it’s a great time to plant many annuals, bulbs, and shrubs. In fact, for many of these plants, fall is the best time to plant. We’re here to give you some tips and suggestions on planting your annuals so they’ll thrive through winter and bloom in the spring!
First, be sure to plant cold tolerant annuals. Not only will these bloom for weeks in the fall, they will establish root systems by the time spring rolls around. Snapdragons, nemesia, and osteospermum are all good fall plants, as well as pansies and violas. Plant these flowers early in the fall season so you can get a bloom in fall and again in spring. If you’re planning on planting a few shrubs and trees, you’re best bet is to plant those earliest in fall. This early planting will allow for best root establishment for your shrubs before winter.
Now that you’ve planted your annuals, be sure to water your garden or flower beds thoroughly. Even in winter, young seedlings may need water two to three times per week. Applying a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch will help your little plants to conserve water and helps prevent weeds from sprouting.
Try planting some of these hardy annuals in your garden this winter!
David West is not only a manager on the landscape maintenance, installation and turf management team of Great Estates Landscaping, he is also an avid outdoorsman and enjoys spending as much time with his family as possible.