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Advantages of Autumn Planting

In the Pacific Northwest, we are fortunate to have a seasonal weather pattern that is ideal for gardeners to plant in the fall. Our normally dry, warm fall days allow for root growth before the winter months.

Growth of Autumn Planting...Early Fall: The cool evenings, and eventually cooler days of autumn, will slow down the loss of moisture through ‘transpiration’ (plants loss of water through their leaves). New plantings don’t dry out as quickly in the intense spring sun. The soil is still warm, until a cold soaking rain, and warmth encourages root development.

Winter: Nature provides free, effortless irrigation. The top growth slows or stops when the temperatures drop, and the daylight shortens. Although the soil is cooler, the available moisture provides slow-growing roots plenty of water.

Early Spring: As the days lengthen and the air warms, plants begin putting energy into top growth. The roots continue to develop for the coming surge of growth in shoots, leaves and flower buds.

Late Spring: The temperatures continue to warm with hot days, increasing the loss of moisture through top growth and in the soil itself. Specimens planted in the fall have established roots, are less prone to drought damage, and are ready for a spring surge of top growth.

...versus Spring Planting Early Spring: In the spring, plants will start pushing top growth as soon as the air warms. The soil is still cold, so the roots are slow to establish.

Late Spring: The soil is still warming up, but without developed roots, the plant doesn’t have the root system needed for a vigorous surge of spring growth. The increasingly hot days cause leaves to lose moisture, increasing the need for irrigation and possibly stressing or killing tender new plants just put in the ground.