Your timing can only be the difference between struggling for years to to get shrubs established versus those that thrive from day one. Most gardeners rush to the nurseries in spring and everything looks green and promising. However, the real magic occurs when temperatures drop and leaves begin their seasonal turn.
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Check PriceAutumn planting is easier and better for your plants. When shrubs are planted in fall, they can begin developing their roots for four months before the first frost. Since the soil is still warm during fall, root growth can occur without the stress that leaves and other plant parts place on the plant.
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Understanding Root Developments in Fall
Here's what occurs below the surface when you place shrubs in the autumn: despite a drop in air temperature, soil temperature remains consistently warm (50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit) until November. This temperature range promotes continuous root growth while cooler air decreases moisture loss through the leaf systems.
Spring-planted shrubs have a different challenge. They are trying to establish roots in cool soil, while also supporting fast top growth, which is more warm weather like overgrown vegetative growth. It'd be like telling someone to build the ground work on a building already in the superstructure construction stage.
Studies indicate that shrubs planted in the fall develop 300% more feeder roots by spring than those planted later in the winter. These vital roots are essential for absorbing water and nutrients. The water and nutrients fuel disease resistance, flowering, and so much more.
Windows of Opportunity for Ultimate Success
Optimal fall planting is from the beginning of September to around the middle of October in most areas. If you plant too early, the new transplants suffer stress from the summer heat. If you wait too long, the roots won't have enough time to settle in before the ground freezes.
Watch for these indicators of natural timing: When nighttime temperatures consistently dip below 60 and daytime highs remain above 50. This is usually in conjunction with the first leaf color changes in your region.
Gardeners in the South have the advantage of being able to continue planting into the month of November. However, those in the North should finish planting by early October. The most important factor is to get a minimum of six weeks of optimal growing conditions prior to the arrival of hard freezes.
12 Shrubs That Do Well when Planted in Autumn
Lilac flowers need the winter chill to bloom well and set dormancy requirements so they can build strong roots. They need to be planted in the fall.
Forsythia are early spring bloomers and benefit greatly from planting in the fall. You'll be able to experience fuller flowering in the first spring.
The spring and summer blooming types of Spirea do better when planted in the fall as they are able to establish quicker and produce more sucker shoots and fill in quicker.
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Fall-planted hydrangeas create stronger root systems for withstanding heat and producing larger blooms.
Rose of Sharon – These summer bloomers develop roots in the fall and use this energy source for another long flowering season the following summer.
Viburnum – Native and exotic species have improved performance with fall planting. They will fruit more reliably and be more attractive to birds.
When Fall is chosen for establishment, Weigela shows more vigorous growth and significantly more flowering on two-year-old wood the following spring.
Mock Orange – These fragrant shrubs require strong root systems to handle the heavy load of spring blooms. Plant in the fall.
Butterfly Bush – It may be tender in certain zones, but fall-planted Butterfly Bushes form hardier root systems that increase their cold hardiness.
Serviceberry – Native serviceberries are easier to establish in the fall, and they produce better fruits crops because their roots have more time to develop.
Ninebark – These hardy natives become virtually impossible to kill once fall-planted. They will sucker more easily and produce denser hedges.
Beauty Bush – There is an old-fashioned beauty bush that must be planted in the fall for optimal blooming. Specimens planted in the spring often do not bloom their first year.
Basic Winter Establishment Care
Water only once per week until frost. Focus on fully soaking the root zone each time. Rather than doing frequent, quick, and shallow watering, new shrubs need moisture consistently, but should never be waterlogged.
Spread 2 to 3 inches of shredded bark mulch around each shrub, keeping the mulch 4 inches away from the shrub trunks. This helps to prevent freeze-thaw cycles that can heave new plants and regulates the temperature of the soil.
Do not fertilize now. Fall fertilization means tender new growth that won’t make it through the winter. Your shrubs need to concentrate on root growth, not top growth (foliage).
What to Expect Next Spring
Shrubs planted in the fall will generally display two to three times the amount of new growth in comparison to newly planted specimens. In their first summer after planting, new fall shrubs will show improved drought tolerance, leaf out sooner, and produce better and more numerous blooms.
Established root systems mitigate transplant shock we typically see with spring plantings, allowing for more vigorous growth. In about half the time, new shoots will form at the base of the plants, resulting in denser, more mature plantings.
When you plant this fall, you get a head start on your landscaping for the year. Until summer heat transplants are established, you will already have established veteran shrubs that can handle any weather.
