Fall Is for Planting…But What Should You Plant?

Last month, we explained why fall is one of the best times to plant in Ohio. Cooler air reduces stress on new plants, while the soil remains warm enough for roots to continue growing. To read more about it you can find it on our website!

But perhaps we left you with one important question:

What should you actually plant?

While we could write a whole book on our favorite plants we will be putting in the ground this fall, here are a couple trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs and even something edible!

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Trees & Shrubs

Zelkova

A tough, durable shade tree with an attractive vase-like shape and fall foliage that can range from golden yellow to orange, red and burgundy.

Why we like it: It is dependable, adaptable and provides beautiful fall color.

Bald Cypress

This fast-growing tree tolerates wet soil and produces soft green needles that turn rusty orange or bronze before dropping in fall.

Why we like it: It gives us an attractive solution for low areas and properties that hold water.

Alleghany + Prague Viburnum

These large, dense shrubs are tall and wide, making it a great natural screen with flowers and colorful berries for added interest.

Why we like it: Sometimes you love your neighbors, you just don’t need to see them every time you sit on the patio.

Perennials

Perennials planted in fall may not look very exciting above ground, but their roots can begin settling in before next year’s growing season. Plant these by mid-October to give them plenty of time to establish strong roots before the ground freezes!

Echinacea and Rudbeckia

Also known as coneflower and black eyed susan, this perennial provides colorful summer blooms for pollinators and seed heads that can feed birds during winter.

‘Millenium’ Allium

This compact ornamental onion produces rounded purple flowers, attracts pollinators and is resistant to browsing deer and rabbits.

Coral Bells

Available in shades ranging from lime green and caramel to burgundy and nearly black. Coral bells add color through foliage rather than relying on flowers.

Spring-Blooming Bulbs

If you want spring flowers, you must plan ahead. Daffodils, tulips and ornamental alliums need to be planted in fall so they can experience the cold period required to bloom.

Daffodils

Dependable, cheerful and generally left alone by deer and rabbits, daffodils are one of our favorite spring investments.

Tulips

Tulips provide bold spring color in nearly every shade imaginable, although some varieties return more reliably than others. Deer also love tulips, so if wildlife is common on your property, we recommend planting these close to your home to better protect them from getting eaten when emerging this spring.

Garlic

Yes, garlic belongs on your fall planting list, too!

Plant individual garlic cloves in late fall—typically around early November in Central Ohio—and they will root underground before producing bulbs that can be harvested next summer. Ohio State Extension recommends early November planting.

Why we like it: You plant one clove, wait patiently and get an entire bulb in return. That feels like a pretty good deal.

One Last Thing: Keep Watering

We know—we will not stop talking about watering. But choosing the right plant is only half the job; understanding how much water it needs while establishing is what helps that plant survive.

Cooler weather does not automatically mean the soil has enough moisture, so continue checking and watering your new trees, shrubs and perennials throughout fall. You can retire the hose eventually. Just not yet.