How late can I plant?

Often times we start hearing that question – of course the corny answer would be – you can plant until dark, unless you have lights, then you can plant later.

The true and direct answer should be – You can plant until freeze-up. We are planting in our fields now – we just lined out 1000 seedlings. The myth of spring planting started many years ago when plants were only available as bare-root, before the containerizing and container growing technology was started. As with most new technologies, the residual effect of the previous methods carry over into the new technology – and becomes either accepted practice or long standing myths. This has happened with tree and shrub planting – and perennials – the perception is that spring is the best and only time to plant.

Let’s think about this for a moment, spring might not be the best planting time – is the ground warm in the spring or in the fall? The ground (hopefully) is warm in the fall – root initiation is not going to take place until the ground reaches a certain temperature – and that was definitely not the case this spring – the ground (and the air) was cold for a long time. By the time the ground does warm, the weather is also warm – and getting drier. Maybe the best time to plant is when the ground is warm and the nights are cooler and there is less transpirational draw on the plants. This is starting to sound a lot more fall like than spring like. Spring planting is before the hot summer days and the most stress on newly installed plants. Fall time is after the hot stress, but before the stress of winter, which for native and hardy plant material is less stressful than hot dry days.

I am still a big fan of spring planting – the time of year we are most excited about landscaping and change – a time to make a long term plans for shade, cooling and the beauty of a landscape. We are programmed by the seed catalogs and our gardens to plant early for a fall harvest. But more and more, we are planting in the fall – to make sure the plants are ready for next spring – not this summer. A change in perspective never hurts – besides fall planting is really next spring planting done on time – we all know how time slides by.

We have been lining out our seedling stock in late August for several years now – it has been one way we were able to continue to grow without irrigation during several very dry summers over the last two decades. After several successful plantings, the focus has become more and more fall planting oriented – and spring is reserved for harvesting – the digging and containerizing our plants. It has also leveled our work load some what .

Our experience has been fall plantings work – there is good root initiation for establishment, the main component in having plants settle into a landscape and start to grow and fulfill your expectations. We also have our seasonal staff leaving at the end of August and we like to make sure they leave tired – and look forward to a restful school year.