What? Fall Planting? -- in MONTANA?
Yes! And here's why it's a good time to plant, even in Montana:
Soil retains summer heat through the fall, so autumn transplants have warm soil to stimulate root growth. Root growth continues in winter, until the ground freezes. If you have a warm pocket somewhere on your property (e.g., a south-facing plant bed near a stone wall or the foundation of your house) the ground may stay warmer in that area. Plants in those warm pockets may grow their roots for a month or so longer than plants in more exposed areas of your site.
During the winter and early spring, soil stores moisture from snowmelt and early rains. Plants that have had a head start growing their roots in fall or early winter, will have that moisture available to them when the soil starts to warm up in early spring.
By late spring, those fall-planted trees, shrubs and perennials are so far ahead, they can put their energy into vigorous top growth (leaves, stems, blossoms) Then, by the time we get our Montana summer hot spells those plants are sitting pretty while spring-started plants are limping along with smaller root systems.
As with all new transplants, remember to water them well, while they are being established. Even though your irrigation system may be shut down for the winter, you will need to water your fall transplants until the ground freezes solid. Use your hose set on “trickle” right on the root ball of each tree and shrub. You may not have time to water extensive new landscape plantings without an automatic irrigation system. In that case, consider waiting until spring to plant
In the Helena area, it is safe to plant up to about mid-October, as long as the ground is not frozen. An easy way to remember that is to “Plant before Columbus Day.”
Fall is also the best time to plant spring-blooming bulbs. Make sure to check the planting depth when you purchase your bulbs, and consider planting spring blooming groundcovers along with bulbs.
You can plant those groundcovers now – many local nurseries have sales on their summer stock. Another great reason to be in your garden during our glorious Montana fall!
Soil retains summer heat through the fall, so autumn transplants have warm soil to stimulate root growth. Root growth continues in winter, until the ground freezes. If you have a warm pocket somewhere on your property (e.g., a south-facing plant bed near a stone wall or the foundation of your house) the ground may stay warmer in that area. Plants in those warm pockets may grow their roots for a month or so longer than plants in more exposed areas of your site.
During the winter and early spring, soil stores moisture from snowmelt and early rains. Plants that have had a head start growing their roots in fall or early winter, will have that moisture available to them when the soil starts to warm up in early spring.
By late spring, those fall-planted trees, shrubs and perennials are so far ahead, they can put their energy into vigorous top growth (leaves, stems, blossoms) Then, by the time we get our Montana summer hot spells those plants are sitting pretty while spring-started plants are limping along with smaller root systems.
As with all new transplants, remember to water them well, while they are being established. Even though your irrigation system may be shut down for the winter, you will need to water your fall transplants until the ground freezes solid. Use your hose set on “trickle” right on the root ball of each tree and shrub. You may not have time to water extensive new landscape plantings without an automatic irrigation system. In that case, consider waiting until spring to plantIn the Helena area, it is safe to plant up to about mid-October, as long as the ground is not frozen. An easy way to remember that is to “Plant before Columbus Day.”
Fall is also the best time to plant spring-blooming bulbs. Make sure to check the planting depth when you purchase your bulbs, and consider planting spring blooming groundcovers along with bulbs.
You can plant those groundcovers now – many local nurseries have sales on their summer stock. Another great reason to be in your garden during our glorious Montana fall!
Fall blooming perennials you can plant in Helena now:
Asters: Aster x frikartii ‘Mönch’
Russian Sage: Perovskia atriplicifolia
Purple Coneflower: Echinacea purpurea ‘Sunset’ ‘Sunrise’ ‘Ruby Star’ or ‘Magnus’
Feather Reed Grass: Calamagrostis ‘Overdam’ or ‘Karl Foerster’
Black Eyed Susan: Rudbeckia goldsturm
Showy Stonecrop: Sedum x ‘Autumn Joy’
Blue Hills Sage: Salvia sylvestris Blue Hill
Garden Oregano: Origanum
Blue Oat Grass: Helictotrichon sempervirensSpring blooming groundcovers to plant with bulbs in fall:
Blue Wooley Speedwell: Veronica pectinata
Basket of Gold: Alyssum montanum
Creeping Thyme: my favorite is Thymus Pink Chintz
Soapwort: Saponaria oxymoides
Snow in Summer: Cerastium tomentosum
Maiden Pinks: Dianthus x ‘Baths Pink’ ‘Zing Rose’‘FireWitch’
posted by Maureen at 8/28/2006
4 comments
links to this post
