Just because it’s September in Kentuckiana doesn’t mean the gardening season is over. You have plenty of time to get in a few more weeks of planting fun. As the temperatures become cooler, the soil is still warm enough to allow roots to grow. In fact, roots will grow until the ground freezes. During the autumn months, we typically have more moisture in the air, which helps to keep your plants hydrated. And below the ground level, microbes and earthworms are still doing their part to help keep things biologically alive.
So if you still want to put that green thumb to use and get outside, here are six different items you can and should be planting this fall for optimal growth.
Cool-Season Grasses
First, if you are looking to plant new grass seed, fall is a perfect time. Our cool-season grasses including, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fescue, see the most vigorous growth during a period of cooler temperatures. The combination of cool evenings, moderate temperatures, and warm sun helps grass seeds germinate faster. There are also fewer weeds for the grass seed to compete with giving your grass a much better chance of survival and enabling it to grow thick and fuller.
Trees and Shrubs
Roots can grow in soil as cold as 40 degrees, and soil remains warm long after the air temperature drops. In Indiana and Kentucky, roots can usually grow through December, but you need to plant trees and shrubs six to eight weeks before then, so that means now through October. A few trees and shrubs that make for great growth in the fall include:
- Knock Out Roses
- Laurel
- Burning Bush
- Forsythia
- Hydrangea
- Elderberry
- Alder
- Ash
- Buckeye
- Catalpa
- Hawthorn
- Honey Locust
- Linden
- Maple
- Sycamore
Vegetables
Fall doesn’t mean the vegetable garden is finished. In fact, many vegetables grow better in the fall. Some of these include carrots, onions, asparagus, beets, broccoli, salad greens, and garlic. Spinach and kale can even grow in the winter. To grow vegetables in the fall, you’ll want to be sure to start with seeds. Plant them a little deeper than you would in the spring and give them about an inch of water per week. Once frost comes, if you want to extend the growing season, simply cover your garden with an old sheet or blanket. The nights may be getting longer and the days cooler but you can still have plenty of fresh veggies for weeks to come!
Bulbs
Looking to have fresh tulips or daffodils this spring? Plant those bulbs now. Fall is the perfect time to plant bulbs for those flowers you want to sprout in the spring. As long as the soil is above 50 degrees, you can plant bulbs for a wide variety of plants, including tulips, daffodils, alliums, crocus, and lilies. To make sure they perform well, plant them in full sun and two to three times deeper than the bulb’s diameter. Place the bulb in the hole pointy side up. Leave the foliage in place until it dies so the bulb can use it as food for next spring’s blooms.
Pansies
Pansies are extremely hardy, frost-resistant, and cold tolerant. Fall is the best time to plant them because doing so will allow you more time to enjoy them as they fade out in the summer when temperatures are too hot. Pansies planted in August or September will bloom and last throughout winter and spring. Plant them by mid to late October so the root system can establish itself. While they like to be planted in full sun, they will also do well in partial shade and can be planted in either garden beds or containers. Keep them adequately moist, and you’ll have colorful flowers in March.
Mums
Nothing signifies fall more than a garden full of mums. They come in a wide variety of flowers, colors, and shapes, from small button-sized blooms to giant-sized flowers. They are easy to grow and can last for years, but variations sold at indoor florists are typically not cold-hardy, so be careful where you purchase them. They prefer to be planted in full sun with well-drained soil. The best part about mums? They will continue to attract pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies throughout the fall to your Kentuckiana yard.
Get Help! Contact the Professionals at 2YardPros for All Your Landscaping Needs
Need more inspiration? Contact the professionals at 2YardPros. We are your lawn and maintenance and landscape experts serving Louisville, Kentucky, and Southern Indiana. Our landscaping and hardscaping services offer a variety of options for both commercial and residential customers. Our trained and licensed professionals can help you achieve the look you’ve always dreamed of. We can help you determine which plants are best for your property, and if time is an issue, we can even plant them for you. We also offer pruning, trimming, and mulching services. Give us a call now and learn how we can help turn your landscape into the envy of the neighbors. You can reach us at 502-298-7828 or online using our online contact form.
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