Fall garden plants may be less abundant as gardens enter a season of rest, but November doesn’t mean the gardening season is over. There are still several plants you can put in the ground to protect your soil, add color to your landscape and prepare your garden for spring.

Key Takeaways

• Plant trees and shrubs: Fall’s cooler temperatures give roots time to establish before spring growth.
• Protect garden soil: Cover crops help prevent erosion, suppress weeds and retain nutrients through winter.
• Add seasonal color: Pansies tolerate cold weather and can provide blooms into winter and early spring.
• Plant spring-flowering bulbs: Fall planting gives bulbs the cool period they need to produce spring flowers.

Planting times for fall garden plants vary by region, climate and growing zone. In colder areas, November may be too late to establish trees, shrubs and some cover crops before the ground freezes. In warmer regions, planting can often continue well into winter. Check your local frost dates, soil conditions and recommendations from your county Cooperative Extension office before planting. The right timing will help plants establish successfully and prepare your garden for spring.

Plant Shrubs & Trees

Fall is a wonderful time to plant shrubs and trees because it gives roots a good amount of time to establish a strong root system. Shrubs and trees fare much better in cool weather than in hot weather. The more time they have to establish themselves in their new location before the threat of heat, the better.

If planted too close to a period of heat, they just don’t have the resources to survive. Getting the plants in the ground just before they become dormant is the safest way to ensure their survival.

Because of cooler temperatures in the fall, less watering is required, giving the gardener a break. Weeds are also less of a maintenance issue in the fall.

Although you won’t see much top growth during the fall or winter out of your shrubs or trees, they will be more prepared to flourish in the spring. Many shrubs and trees have proven to bloom earlier if they are planted in the fall. 

Fall Garden Plants: Cover Crops

Garden beds are depleted at this point in the year from growing all spring and summer. If you planned for a fall garden, it is most likely still producing. However, if you have open beds, they need to start preparing for spring now.

Fall and winter weather can wreak havoc on garden beds. The wind will cause erosion and deplete nutrients from the soil. Bacteria and fungi can still be present and grow in soil during the winter. If garden beds are left empty in the winter, they can become host to pests, diseases and weeds.

Cover crops as fall garden plants will aid in suppressing all of that negative activity. 

Cover crops fill the bed in a way that protects soil from erosion, keeping healthy nutrients and microbes flourishing and preventing weeds. When planted around November, many plants will even stay green throughout the winter, enhancing the aesthetic of your garden as well.

Different cover crops help garden soil in various ways, and you will want to research what is best for your area. At Porter Valley Ranch, we choose to plant crimson clover because it is low-maintenance and highly beneficial. Crimson clover is a legume and adds nitrogen to the soil in the spring.

It is a nutrient scavenger and brings nutrients up from deep in the soil, preferring sandy, loamy soil. In the spring, if there are not enough significant freezes, the clover can be terminated and added back into the soil via a weed eater. If it was a harsh winter, Crimson clover will simply winterkill.

Either way, the cover crop will have done its job and be easy to turn back into the soil in time to start planting for spring.

Read more: Cover crops are a powerhouse tool for building healthy soil.

Fall Garden Plants: Pansies

It may seem counterintuitive to add annuals to your landscape or beds right now. However, pansies complement all fall plants and can survive dropping temperatures.

They may take a break in the winter (depending on your weather), but rebloom early in the spring to also complement spring flowers, giving you the most mileage out of all annual plantings. Some pansies can even be seen still blooming during snow!

They will gradually die out in late spring as temperatures rise, but for an annual, they are well worth the investment. Aside from the practicality of the flower, they are absolutely beautiful, with a subtle fragrance. They are offered in a kaleidoscope of colors and produce billowy blooms. 

Plant Bulbs in Fall for Spring Blooms

Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, irises, lilies and ranunculus are all spring favorites! These plants, along with several others, need to be planted in November to show their blooms in spring.

Bulbs require a long period of cool temperatures to ignite the chemical process that causes them to flower. They need to be planted before it freezes and tucked in for the winter.

Most bulbs will come back year after year. Make sure to research what is best for your area for continual success. Also, pay attention to planting instructions. Living plants put in in November will be developing and preparing all winter long and need to be positioned correctly to work best.

FAQs

What plants can you plant in November?

Depending on your growing zone and local weather, November is a good time to plant trees, shrubs, cover crops, pansies and many spring-flowering bulbs. The ground should still be workable, and plants should have enough time to establish before severe freezing conditions.

What flowers can you plant in the fall for spring blooms?

Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, irises and other spring-flowering plants can be planted in fall. Many need a period of cold temperatures to develop properly and produce blooms in spring. Check planting recommendations for your area and the specific variety.

What are the best cover crops to plant in the fall?

Crimson clover, winter rye, hairy vetch and annual ryegrass are common fall cover crops. The best choice depends on your climate, soil type and gardening goals. Some cover crops winterkill, while others survive winter and need to be terminated before spring planting.

Fall may signal the end of the busy gardening season, but a little work now can make a big difference when spring arrives. Whether you’re planting trees and shrubs, protecting garden beds with cover crops, adding color with pansies or tucking bulbs into the soil, these fall garden plants help keep your landscape productive and ready for the next growing season. With the right choices for your region, you can give your garden a head start on spring.

This story about fall garden plants was written for Hobby Farms magazine. Click here to subscribe.