Fall Planting Tips: What To Plant As The Seasons Change

September 10, 2021

Fall has arrived, which means it’s time to head back to the lawn and garden center near you and begin selecting new plants, trees, and shrubs to enhance your yard this season. When considering fall planting, we recommend working in layers, with a wide variety of seasonal colors and textures.

Garden Flowers

Begin by considering options that will add robust color to your yard and enhance your evergreens. Colors you will want to consider include creamy white, bronze, yellow, and orange. These colors also look great presented with pumpkins and other gourds in your seasonal display. For a resilient choice, chrysanthemums are favorable for fall planting. They are able to endure cold temperatures and grow again the following year. Other flowers to consider when looking for a pop of color include:

  • Marigolds
  • Zinnias
  • Dusty Miller
  • Aster

Multi-Season Shrubs

The fall months are a great time to consider adding new trees and shrubs into the mix. When you begin thinking about which trees and shrubs to add in, always ask yourself if the species can be used multi-season. There are several great options for multi-season shrubs. One of our top picks is viburnum, which offers flowers in late spring and early summer, followed by bearing fruit, which attracts birds later in the year.

  • Oak-leaf hydrangea
  • Serviceberry
  • Fothergilla
  • Ninebark
  • Dogwoods

Large Trees

Whether you are hoping to replace trees lost during summer storms or start fresh with a new display in your yard, fall is a great time to consider different varieties. One that shouldn’t be missed is the Japanese maple tree. This tree can range from 2 to 30 feet tall, in many different forms such as weeping, rounded, upright, cascading, and dwarf. It will lose its leaves seasonally, but before they fall, they will turn a stunning fire red color in the autumn months. Other varieties to keep your eye on include:

  • Honey Locust
  • Redbud
  • Fern Leaf
  • Buckthorn

Experiment with a variety of trees, shrubs and flowers this fall to see what works best in your zone. Utilize these plants to present a color scheme that suits your preferences and enhances your holiday display. For more gardening tips, check out our resource center and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.