By Andrew Bunting, PHS VP of Horticulture   

Fall is a great time to enjoy the garden with a bounty of ornamental flowers, fruits, stems, and fall colors. Perennials and annuals alike can be planted to create stunning floral displays throughout the autumn months. Additionally, many shrubs and small trees will burst into their autumnal splendor with beautifully colored leaves, berries, and stems. 

The Benefits of Fall Planting

For many years, nurseries and garden centers have promoted the idea that “fall is for planting.”  This approach has been popularized over the years, and now fall is almost as popular as spring for planting and renovating gardens. 

There are many benefits of fall planting in relationship to establishing permanent plants such as perennials, vines, trees, and shrubs. In general, this time of year is less stressful for plants. As the air temperatures cool, the soil stays warm and cools down over a much longer period. With cooler air temperatures, there is less stress on newly planted plants and less need for regular watering. With warmer soil temperatures heading into the winter, plants can establish well-developed root systems before winter settles in. 

What to Plant in Fall and Potential Hazards 

Most deciduous (plants that shed their leaves seasonally, usually in the autumn) shrubs, trees, and herbaceous perennials can be planted in the fall. It is important to be mindful that there should be ample time for the plants to properly establish a root system before heading into the colder months. 6-8 weeks should be sufficient for developing a good rooting system.  

Some plants however, especially trees, have been identified as potential “fall planting hazards.” This includes trees such as red maple, Acer rubrum; birches, Betula; Dogwoods, Cornus and oaks, Quercus. However, small-sized trees, even of these species, can be successfully planted and transplanted in the fall. For both broadleaved and coniferous plants (conifers), the key is to plant them in early fall to give them ample time to establish a root system. If both broadleaved evergreens and conifers are not well-rooted heading into the winter, then on sunny winter days the foliage will transpire moisture and there will not be a root system with the capacity to replace the water, resulting in “winter burn” which is the browning or desiccation of foliage or needles. 

How to Prepare Your Garden for Fall Planting  

Take advantage of low air temperatures and warm soils to have plants quickly establish as they are becoming dormant. This is also a time to assess the design of your garden and consider adding perennials, shrubs, trees, and seasonal plants, many of which can enhance and make your autumn garden more vibrant.  

Fall planting can begin in September once it seems like the most extreme temperatures and humidity have ended for the summer. In zones 5 or below, September will be the best month. In USDA zones 6-8, fall planting will be successful from mid-September to mid-November. In zones 8-10, planting can occur through the fall and into the winter. 

Any areas where plants will be planted or moved in the garden should have the soil prepared with compost to improve success. Once the planting is completed, new plants should be watered deeply. Additionally, new plantings will benefit from being mulched around the base of the plant, as this will help conserve moisture and insulate the new roots heading into the winter. 

Designing Your Fall Garden: Great Plants for the Garden in Autumn 

Fall is a season of vibrant beauty, and many plants reach their peak ornamental glory during this time including perennials, trees, shrubs, and other seasonal plants. Discover a world of autumnal beauty with these stunning plants for your fall garden. 

Perennials 

• Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘October Skies’ and ‘Raydon’s Favorite,’ the aromatic aster is covered in quarter-sized, lavender-blue flowers in October and reaches 3-4 feet tall. Flowering occurs best in full sun. 
• The native white wood aster, Eurybia divaricata, is great for shady spots with tiny, white, star-like flowers and reaches two feet tall. This aster prefers the shade. 
• Aster ericoides ‘Snow Flurry’ is a spreading or cascading plant perfect for covering a wall that is covered in white flowers. A well-drained soil in full sun is best for this aster. 
• The toadlilies, Tricyrtis hirta, have orchid-like flowers that are skyward facing and lavender with deeper purple spots. Toadlilies will flower best in partial sun conditions. 

Shrubs 

Many shrubs either have outstanding fall color or excellent ornamental fruit display. Fall is the season to appreciate the beauty of shrubs. Whether you prefer the outstanding colors of autumn foliage or their colorful, ornamental fruit, there's a shrub to suit your taste. 

• The winterberry holly, Ilex verticillata is a deciduous holly noted for its abundance of brightly colored berries. When the leaves are shed in the fall, it reveals berries that cover the stems. This native shrub is tolerant of many soil types including poorly drained areas and wet areas. ‘Winter Red’ is a selection with bright red berries and ‘Winter Gold’ has salmon orange fruits. At maturity, they will reach up to ten feet tall. Fruiting will best occur in full sun. A male cultivar, such as, ‘Southern Gentleman’ is needed for fruit production.  
• Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’ is a PHS Gold Medal Plant winner. This selection of chokeberry is upright with multiple stems. In the fall, it is covered in clusters of red fruits and has a fire-engine red fall color.  
•  A selection of the red-stemmed dogwood is Cornus sericea ‘Cardinal.’  In late fall, the naked stems are a vibrant salmon-orange color. They combine beautifully with an evergreen backdrop. Stems will be the most intensely colored in full sun. Cornus can tolerate moist conditions in the garden. 

Trees 

• Acer rubrum Redpointe®, a selection of red maple, has recently received the 2025 Gold Medal award from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. This red maple has exceptional red fall color and reaches 45 feet tall at maturity. It will thrive in a variety of soils, including wet conditions. 
• The paperbark maple, Acer griseum is unequaled for ornamental bark. This small to medium-sized tree which can reach 25-35 feet tall is covered in highly ornamental peeling coppery bark as it matures.  
• The common witchhazel, Hamamelis virginiana grows locally in our woods often found along the edge of streams and rivers. At maturity, it can be a large, multi-stemmed shrub or a small tree. The fall color is golden yellow and as the leaves fall it reveals an abundance of bright, yellow spider-like flowers. It will grow in considerable shade, but flowers best in full sun. 

Seasonal Interest 

Fall has become a popular season, like spring, for augmenting the garden and planters with seasonal interest. Incorporate these plants that showcase their best colors, textures, or fruits in fall. 

• There are many selections of ornamental peppers, Capsicum annum, which are grown specifically for their ornamental peppers in the fall. ‘Black Pearl’ has black foliage and shiny round black peppers, while Acapulco™ Multicolor has narrow peppers in an array of colors. Peppers enjoy sunny places in the garden. 
• Coleus, Solenostemon have great selections with autumnal colors such as red, burgundy, gold, and burnt orange. Coleus can be added to the garden for additional seasonal interest and are also excellent in containers and window boxes. Coleus will thrive in full sun to partial shade. 
• Ornamental kale, Brassica oleracea, has extended ornamental interest in the fall due to its ability to withstand cold temperatures. ‘Dinosaur’ has long steely-blue leaves. ‘Redbor’ is upright with crinkled deep purple leaves. Ornamental kale likes a well-drained soil in full sun. 

Expert Tips for Successful Fall Planting  

• The earlier the planting can occur in the fall, the better. Early fall planting will give the plants ample time to thoroughly root into the soil before the temperatures get too cold. 
• Be careful taking care of plants that are considered “fall planting hazards” like oaks, birches, and maples. Be mindful that both broadleaved evergreens and conifers must be well-rooted and established by the time the ground starts to freeze. 
• Plants should be well-watered and hydrated heading into the fall and winter. 
• Don’t fertilize plants. Traditional nitrogen-based fertilizers might encourage new growth which can then be vulnerable to early frosts and freezes.