WHY PLANT IN FALL?
There are lots of reasons why autumn is a good time for planting. First and foremost, in many places the weather is more congenial for plants than it is in spring. The threat of intense summer heat and the possibility of a debilitating early hot spell do not loom. There’s a much better chance for a period of mild weather when new additions to the garden can send out new roots and establish themselves in the soil. Daytime temperatures are cooler, but nights are still mild, at least in early autumn. There’s also less threat of drought in many places. Pest and disease problems abate, as this year’s generation of bugs and crawlies prepares for winter dormancy, and lower humidity offers less hospitable conditions for disease organisms to proliferate. For gardeners, as well as for gardens, autumn is a time of opportunity. We’re less busy in the garden now, and we have more time to turn our attention to planting. Most nurseries put perennials, trees, and shrubs on sale in fall, and savvy shop
