PLANTING IN THE FALL

Many people always ask if Fall is really a good time to be planting young plants, especially here in the mountains where the weather can change quickly and we could very well see an early snow. YES! This is in fact an excellent time to plant, sometimes even better than in Spring.

Here in Southern California, even up here in the mountains, we tend to have late summer-like days, “Indian Summers”, as I’m sure you’ve heard of and experienced. The soil is still warm and the days are shorter so even if we have a hot day it tends to cool off at night. This gives your new plantings a break from the heat and there is less chance of the plants drying out. This also means less watering is needed because of the cool nights, and occasional Fall rains that help keep the soil moist. The overall gardening experience is more enjoyable as well, with softer soil and cooler temperatures, and there are less weeds and insect pests to fight off of your new plantings.

But be aware, less watering doesn’t mean no watering. You should still keep your plants moist between rains until winter. This gives your garden a head start on the next growing season. You can plant up to 6 weeks before the ground freezes, and apply a thick layer of mulch (3 inches at least) to insulate roots and retain moisture. This promotes strong root growth which is good for surviving the winter and being ready to take off in the Spring.