Don’t miss out on experiencing the pleasure of watching (and listening) to the American Goldfinch devour all of the seed on your coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) They will eat each and every seed with delight, and you’ll be lucky to have one or two left for seedlings in new spots for next year. But take heart! Fall is for planting! (and we have excellent stock of Echinacea) The dependable rainfall, cooler weather and fewer pest and disease problems make this a stress-free time for plants to establish themselves before winter.

Fall is a perfect time to add a new tree or a grouping of shrubs to the landscape. Or perhaps you have an area in the landscape that needs remodeling or rejuvenating. The fall may be the best season to plant,
surpassing even the spring.

Many people prefer January through March for planting, but the fall months of September through December have distinct advantages. Fall planting follows the heat of summer, and precedes a cool winter season. Trees and shrubs planted use this to good advantage. Plant roots grow anytime the soil temperature is 40 degrees or higher. During the fall and early winter months, the root systems of the fall-planted specimens develop and become
established. When spring arrives, this expanded root system can support and
take advantage of the full surge of spring growth.

Fall planting is the optimum time to plant balled and burlapped trees and shrubs. Balled and burlapped plants have ample time to recover from transplanting and proliferate roots before spring growth begins.

All plants have growing requirements. Think about the plant's needs before you invest. Is it adapted to your area's soil? Will it grow in sun or shade? Does it need a wet or dry location? Is it cold hardy?

Plan before you plant is always a good rule of thumb. Whether you are planting a single plant or an entire landscape, plan first, then plant. Good planning is a worthwhile investment of time that will pay off in greater enjoyment of attractive and useful home grounds, and in increasing the value of your home. It's much easier to move plants on paper than to dig them after planting in the wrong place. A plan saves many planting mistakes.

Every plant in the landscape should serve a purpose. Ask yourself if you want a plant for screening, for privacy, or for shade. How large will it be five years from now? Plants, like people, grow up. Remember, that a small one-gallon size plant will look entirely different after a few years of growth in your landscape.