Besides looking forward to all the joys of autumn such as colorful pumpkins and gourds and pretty leaves, fall is the time to give your garden one last bit of love! In fact, fall is prime planting time, especially for perennials, shrubs and trees. That’s because the temperatures have moderated and rainfall generally is more plentiful, so it’s not as stressful for new plants to get established. Not to mention, it’s way easier on you to plant on a cool autumn day than during the sweltering heat of summer!
By now, your summer annuals are past their prime. But many perennials still are going strong in autumn. In fact, the most well-rounded and lush gardens have a combination of both perennials and annuals. Additionally, perennials are a great long-term investment to your garden because they return for many seasons. Just make sure to choose perennials that are suited to survive winters in your USDA Hardiness Zones (find yours here).
If you’re super busy, the good news is that you can keep planting well into fall in most of the country, as long as your perennials have time to establish their roots before the ground freezes. That depends on where you live, but that’s typically late fall to early winter in most of the country. In warm climates, such as zones 9 and 10 where the ground generally doesn’t freeze, you can plant all the way until early spring.
Read on to learn the best perennials to plant this fall for reliable color year after year.
