Fall Is for Planting: Your Treasure Valley Guide to Autumn Gardening
As summer begins to wind down, many Treasure Valley gardeners start thinking about putting the garden to bed. But don't be too quick to hang up your gardening gloves! September and October are among the best months of the year for many planting projects in Boise and throughout the Treasure Valley.
Cooler temperatures and shorter days mean less stress on newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials. And while our Treasure Valley autumns can be dry, cooler weather means plants lose less moisture than they do during the heat of summer.
Fall planting also gives many hardy plants an opportunity to establish their root systems before next summer's heat arrives.
Fall Color for Your Garden
By September, some of our summer annuals are beginning to look tired. Rather than giving up on your flower beds and containers, replace those fading plants with some of the wonderful choices that thrive in cool weather.
Pansies, ornamental kale and cabbage, chrysanthemums, asters, dusty miller and violas can provide beautiful fall color and, in many cases, continue looking good well into the cooler months and Aloha Home and Garden has an excellent selection of fall mums.
Fall is also an excellent time to plant hardy perennials. Plants such as yarrow, salvia, asters, ornamental grasses and many daisy-type perennials can establish their roots during the cooler months and be ready to put on a strong show next spring.
Just remember that newly planted perennials still need regular watering until the ground begins to freeze. Don't assume that cooler weather means they no longer need water.
Now Is the Time for Spring-Blooming Bulbs
One of the easiest ways to make next spring more beautiful is to plant bulbs this fall.
Tulips, daffodils, crocus, hyacinths and alliums are planted in autumn and reward you with flowers when winter finally gives way to spring. At this time, we do not sell these items, but contact us and we’ll provide you with several companies in the Bosie area who carry premium bulbs.
Planting bulbs is a little like putting money in the bank—you do the work now and enjoy the return next year!
Fall Is an Excellent Time for Trees and Shrubs
If you've been putting off planting a tree or shrub because of the summer heat, fall is your opportunity. Aloha Home and Garden has all trees on sale through the month of September at 40% off our retail price (example: 2.50-3.00” caliper Linden, regular $289.98, now $173.99.
September and October are generally much easier on newly planted trees and shrubs than the hot months of June, July and August. The cooler temperatures allow roots to become established before the plant has to deal with another hot and dry Treasure Valley summer.
Fall is an especially good time to plant shade trees, ornamental trees, shrubs, evergreens and many native and water-wise plants.
However, not every plant is a good candidate for late-fall planting. Plants that are marginally hardy in our area may be better planted in spring, giving them a full growing season to establish before their first Treasure Valley winter.
And remember: newly planted trees and shrubs still need water in the fall. Continue watering deeply and regularly until the ground begins to freeze. Proper planting is essential for any plant. Aloha Home and Garden has a 2-page pamphlet available upon purchase of a plant from our garden center explaining how to install a plant.
Don't Forget the Vegetable Garden
September doesn't necessarily mean the end of the vegetable garden.
Cool-season crops such as lettuce, spinach, kale and other greens can provide fresh harvests well into fall. Radishes and other quick-growing vegetables can also be planted for a late-season harvest.
Fall is also the time to begin thinking about garlic and onions for next year's garden.
And, of course, keep harvesting those warm-season vegetables while they are producing. Tomatoes, peppers, squash and eggplant should be harvested regularly as temperatures begin to cool.
Keep an eye on the forecast, too. A sudden Treasure Valley frost can arrive sooner than expected and ruin a garden that looked like it still had weeks of growing time.
Give Your Lawn Some Attention
If your lawn has suffered through a hot Treasure Valley summer, fall is the perfect time to bring it back to life.
Early fall is an excellent time for overseeding thin areas or renovating a tired lawn. Before spreading seed, remove excess thatch, loosen the soil where necessary and add compost or other organic matter if your soil needs improvement. You’re find our grass seed is formulated for the intermountain west and it’s on sale now and through the end of September at a 50% savings off the retail price.
Good seed-to-soil contact and consistent moisture are the keys to successful fall lawn establishment.
A well-established fall lawn will have a much better chance of entering winter healthy and coming back strong next spring.
One of Our Favorite Gardening Seasons
Fall may signal the end of summer, but it certainly doesn't mean the end of gardening.
In fact, for many Treasure Valley gardeners, fall is one of the most enjoyable times of the year to work in the landscape. The temperatures are comfortable, the frantic pace of summer has slowed down, and there is still plenty to plant.
So before you put away your gardening tools for the year, take another look at your landscape. There may be trees to plant, shrubs to add, perennials to divide, bulbs to put in the ground, a lawn to renovate—or simply some beautiful fall color to enjoy.
Call or stop by Aloha Home & Garden and let us help you make the most of the Treasure Valley's fall planting season, our phone number is 208-350-6888 and our address is 4291 S. Cloverdale Rd. in Boise.
— Aloha Home & Garden | Boise, Idaho
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