Explore trees and shrubs you should plant in autumn for a beautiful garden year-round. Fall planting ensures strong roots and healthy growth.
Planting trees and shrubs during the fall is ideal for a new plant to establish strong root and shoot development before winter. It’s like giving the plant a head start to grow upwards in the spring instead of struggling to establish roots during the heat of summer. Check out the best trees and shrubs you should plant in autumn with this post.
Why is autumn the best time for planting trees and shrubs?
The first reason is that temperatures drop to a moderate level after the hot and humid summer, favoring seed germination as well as root and shoot development. Humidity levels are also lower. Plants that get a new start in autumn or fall develop better rooting so they can focus on shoots and other developments later in the spring.
Additionally, one thing that goes unmentioned is that when you plant a new shrub or tree during the fall, you can control the requirements for the plant, like watering, adding fertilizers, exposure to the sun, and so on, because the weather is less humid and the rainfall is moderate.
Moreover, pest infestations and diseases are less common during this season. Choosing the right plants for falls allows you to take advantage of end-of-season sales at your local nurseries. So, plan out your fall plantation soon!
Trees and Shrubs you should Plant in Autumn
1. Coneflower
Botanical Name: Echinacea species
Coneflowers, popular flowers in the daisy family (Asteraceae), thrive in hardiness zones 3 to 9. They are native to the eastern and central United States, blooms in mid-summer, and continue till the end of winter. Planting them in this season gives them time to absorb moisture and form roots ensuring that the flowers bloom in spring. Add these beautiful bloomers to your garden for a stunning spring display.
2. Black-eyed Susan
Botanical Name: Rudbeckia hirta
Black-eyed Susan is a herb with daisy-like flowers but only yellow that rises over broad ovate green leaves with a rough texture. This wildflower is native to the central US and grows in natural areas. Black-eyed Susans can be planted during the fall because they go dormant in the spring and flower in late winter.
3. Sedum
Botanical Name: Sedum species
Growing sedum in the fall is a perfect way to add colorful autumn blooms to your garden. Paired with other fall favorites like chrysanthemums or ornamental peppers and kale, they will brighten up your landscape in preparation for winter festivals. Sedum is an easy-to-care-for leaf succulent that is the perfect choice for even the most novice gardener.
4. Chrysanthemum
Botanical Name: Chrysanthemum species
Chrysanthemums are seasonal flowers, and you can start planting them from cuttings at the beginning of September. At the end of winter, your garden will be blooming with beautiful Chrysanthemums. In addition, there are many colorful varieties you can choose from, such as white, red, orange, pink, dark pink, and so on.
5. Fountain Grass “Red Rocket”
Botanical Name: Pennisetum alopecuroides
Red Rocket’ fountain grass is an ornamental grass that brightens any landscape with its reddish-hued seed heads. It can spread freely and is an ideal plant for erosion control on sloping areas and along streamsides. Grow fountain grass in average, medium-moisture soil during or before this season starts, and you will see feathery bloomers like fountains in your garden. This is a good plant for creating a grassy edge or to use as a central accent surrounded by other summer and fall-blooming perennials.
6. Witch Hazel
Botanical Name: Hamamelis virginiana
Witch hazel is a hardy shrub or small tree that produces eye-catching, fragrant yellow blooms in the wintery landscape. Native to North America, it grows best in mild climates, in full sun, and moist, slightly acidic, well-draining soil. Witch hazel is also beloved for its tendency to attract pollinators and songbirds and for its deer resistance.
7. Sugar Maple
Botanical Name: Acer saccharum
The Sugar Maple is a large tree in the soapberry family native to North America is a beautiful plant and looks stunning during autumn because of the red, yellow, or orange color of the leaves. They grow up to 70 feet tall in 4-8 hardy zones. Sugar maple is best known for being the primary source of maple syrup and hardwood lumber useful for furniture manufacturing. Furthermore, its bright-colored foliage brings every admirer to fall for its beauty.
8. Red Chokeberry
Botanical Name: Aronia arbutifolia
The red chokeberry is native to North America and included in the rose family. This pretty shrub shines differently in all the seasons. In spring, chokeberry shrubs offer white flowers that look like apple blossoms. Rich red fruits follow in late summer and autumn, and the beauty ends with brilliant orange-red foliage. It is popularly used for landscaping.
9. Japanese Stewartia
Botanical Name: Stewartia pseudocamellia
The Japanese Stewartia is a small to medium deciduous flowering tree that has different impacts in all seasons. This plant can reach a height of 12 to 40 feet tall. Honestly, this top-notch small tree looks beautiful throughout the year. Its dark green leaves make a nice way for its late-summer and white camellia-shaped flowers that appear from June to August. In the fall, Stewart’s leaves turn orange, yellow, and red shades, which look very beautiful during the sunset.
10. Dogwood
Botanical Name: Cornus species
Dogwoods are usually planted for their white or pink spring flowers but the gorgeous purple-red tones of the leaves will bring a mesmerizing beauty to your garden in the falls. Some dogwoods are trees, and some are shrubs, so you can find the best size to suit your landscape. They grow best when planted in sunny to shady areas, reaching a height of up to 25 feet.
