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Start Planning Your Fall Garden Now

Posted on by sunrise-saltbox

While summer is still in full swing, now is the perfect time to start thinking about your fall landscape. Planning ahead gives you the best selection of plants and plenty of time to create colorful gardens that will shine well into autumn. Whether you’re refreshing flower beds, planting shrubs, or preparing a vegetable garden, late summer is an excellent time to get started.

Add Beautiful Fall Color

Fall gardens can be just as colorful as summer landscapes.

Popular favorites include:

  • Garden Mums
  • Asters
  • Ornamental Kale
  • Ornamental Cabbage
  • Pansies
  • Violas

These cool-season favorites add long-lasting color to garden beds, containers, and entryways.

Plant Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses add movement, texture, and interest throughout the changing seasons.

Excellent choices include:

  • Fountain Grass
  • Switchgrass
  • Feather Reed Grass
  • Little Bluestem

Many varieties develop beautiful seed heads and rich fall color while providing winter interest.

Trees and Shrubs Get a Head Start

Late summer is a great time to begin selecting trees and shrubs for fall planting.

Consider adding:

  • Flowering Shrubs
  • Evergreens
  • Shade Trees
  • Ornamental Trees
  • Native Shrubs

Warm soil and cooler nights help encourage strong root growth before winter arrives.

Don’t Forget Spring Bulbs

Planning ahead now means enjoying beautiful blooms next spring.

Popular bulbs include:

  • Daffodils
  • Tulips
  • Crocus
  • Hyacinths
  • Alliums

Plant bulbs in fall for a spectacular spring display.

Plant Cool-Season Vegetables

As temperatures begin to moderate, many vegetables thrive in cooler weather.

Great choices include:

  • Lettuce
  • Spinach
  • Kale
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Swiss Chard

Late-season vegetable gardens often produce excellent harvests with fewer insect problems.

Refresh Containers for Fall

Replace fading summer flowers with fresh plants that thrive as temperatures cool.

Combine:

  • Mums
  • Asters
  • Ornamental grasses
  • Colorful foliage plants
  • Pumpkins and gourds

A refreshed container instantly adds seasonal charm to porches and patios.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it too early to start planning a fall garden?

Not at all. Planning now gives you the best selection of plants and allows plenty of time for successful planting before cooler weather arrives.

What flowers bloom in the fall?

Mums, asters, pansies, ornamental kale, and violas are all excellent choices for late-season color.

When should I plant spring bulbs?

Most spring-flowering bulbs should be planted in the fall after temperatures begin to cool.

Is late summer a good time to plant trees and shrubs?

Yes. Warm soil and cooler nights help trees and shrubs establish healthy root systems before winter.

What vegetables can I plant now?

Lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, cabbage, and Swiss chard are all great cool-season crops for fall harvests.

Visit Us

Whether you’re planning colorful fall containers, planting trees and shrubs, adding ornamental grasses, or starting a cool-season vegetable garden, Salt Box Nursery has everything you need to create a beautiful landscape for the seasons ahead.

Salt Box Nursery
562 Boston Road
Billerica, MA 01821

Phone: (978) 663-4348

Hours
Open Daily: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Visit us today and let our knowledgeable team help you choose the perfect plants for a colorful, thriving fall garden.

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