Wordless Wednesday

'Kousa Pink' Dogwood--beautiful fall color!

Why Plant in Fall?

"So what's the big deal about fall being the best season to plant? Isn't spring the best time to plant? Or is the whole "fall is for planting" line I'm hearing just a ploy to sell more shrubs this time of year?"Maybe you've had some of those same thoughts as you read and hear ads for nurseries this season. So, what is the big deal--what makes fall such a great time to plant?

Katsura fall color

First, let me assure you that just about any time of year can be easy to plant shrubs, trees and perennials in our corner of the world. In case you haven't noticed, our seasons don't exactly give us any extremes in heat or cold--in fact, at Vander Giessen's, our thought has always been that unless the ground is too frozen to dig a hole, plant! But fall really is an excellent season for doing so. Here are a few simple (although often unrealized) reasons why fall can be the ideal season for planting.

As the days start to get noticeably shorter this time of year, nearly all plants start to go dormant (except moss, but that's another story!). In dormancy, plants experience very little stress in transplanting--in other words, you're much less likely to have a plant suffer or die from being moved in fall than in spring or summer. Look at it this way: when the plant is asleep, it won't even know it's being moved.

Another reason fall is so great for planting is because although air temperatures are cooler now than in summer, ground temperatures are still relatively warm--and much more so than in early spring when many of us start itching to plant. Warm ground is great for encouraging fast root development, and with strong roots, your plants will be well established by next year.

Yet another reason why you should consider planting in fall is watering. We all lead busy lives, and in spring, you're probably going to have too many other things to keep track of to remember to water new plantings every day. So why not take advantage of fall and winter rains to do the work for you? Planting now means you can let our wonderful, natural irrigation take care of recent transplants. 

'Tiger Eyes' Sumac fall color

Now, one word of caution: if you're looking to plant in a spot in your yard that gets the full blast of the northeast wind in winter, wait. Around here, the biggest killer in winter isn't snow or even cold--it's wind. Winter's "northeaster" winds can do more damage to young plants in drying them out than freezing alone, so if your yard is dangerously exposed, it really is best to wait until spring to plant. Aside from that caveat, get working!

Finally, fall really is a great time to find plants at clearance prices. While you won't find the selection of shrubs, trees and perennials you expect to find at nurseries in the spring, you may find some great treasures at huge markdowns. If you haven't done any shopping yet, stop in at Vander Giessen's and see what we have that might fit your yard and give you a headache-free planting experience!

Wordless Thursday

Since I forgot yesterday...

Coral Bark ('Sango Kaku') Japanese Maple

Take Steps Now for a Great Spring

Like it or not, I think it’s safe to say our summer is over. If you haven’t yet started fall cleanup in your yard, you probably will soon—and in another month or so, the last of the yard work will be complete and you can put your garden tools to rest until spring.

Before you call it quits, though, there are a few items I would encourage you to add to your “to do” list—accomplishing them yet this fall will give your lawn and garden a great start next year. 

First, have you planted any bulbs? Whether you can boast having a green thumb or not, there’s no question you can grow spring bulbs—they’re just plain easy. But if you want to enjoy the color that daffodils, tulips and other bulbs provide in early spring, you need to start planting now. At Vander Giessen Nursery, we carry a great selection of early- to mid-spring bloomers that will finish up just when you’re ready to start planting your other annuals. 

If you have doubts that bulbs are easy to grow, consider the steps: dig a small hole, drop in a bulb, add a little bit of bone meal to fertilize and backfill the hole. No need to water, no additional fertilizing later. You’re done. With the exception of cacti and succulents—and most don’t grow here anyway—there are very few plants that need such little care. So if you haven’t, find a place to plant some bulbs for early spring color in your yard.

Secondly, now is a great time to add lime to your lawn. In order to keep your grass thick and healthy—and keep moss from taking over—you need to make applying lime a regular part of your yearly schedule. This summer, I attended a couple of weddings at the beautiful Evergreen Gardens south of Lynden. If you’ve ever been there, you’ve undoubtedly seen the lush lawns growing amongst the stately evergreens. If you have any shade on your yard, you know how tough it can be to keep grass growing there. Evergreen Gardens’ secret is lime—and lots of it. Shade or not, adding high doses of lime to your lawn multiple times a year will help keep grass thick and lush, even in shade. As we get into the “rainy season,” stop at your favorite local nursery to pick up Super Sweet lime for your yard. In just a few weeks, it will activate to help your fertilizer work better and keep moss at bay.

Third, hold off on your fall fertilizer for just a few more weeks. Chances are you’ve probably seen and heard the box stores advertizing fall fertilizer for the last month or more, but for our area, it’s still too early to apply it. Fall fertilizer is designed to store nutrients in the grass as well as promote root growth for a quick green-up in spring, so for many parts of the country, that means applying in September or October as lawns go dormant. Around here, however, grass grows into November, so I encourage you to wait. Apply Scotts Super Turf Builder Winterguard in mid-November to see the best results—and if you’ve already done it, you may need to reapply. 

Finally, October is still a great month to plant shrubs, trees and perennials. Fall clearance pricing continues at many local nurseries, so take advantage of deep discounts to fill some holes in your landscaping.  

This month, take a few simple steps to make next spring beautiful. With minimal effort, you’ll have a healthy lawn and colorful flowerbeds as another new season begins. 

Wordless Wednesday

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

We've just finished picking and washing gourds and mini pumpkins--and they're now for sale! While supplies last, they're 99 cents apiece or 6 for just $5.00.