Fall is the time to get your yard ready for next spring. Every fall deciduous trees and shrubs go through a transition period where their leaves turn from green to beautiful shades of yellow, red, orange, crimson and other colors. These fabulous fall colors look even more beautiful when set against or amongst the dark green foliage of pine and spruce.

To most people, this is just the 'Changing of the Fall Leaves Season' and there are just a couple of colorful weeks left before 'Old Man Winter' sets in. But, what really causes these leaves to turn color and then drop off the trees is very fascinating. Mother Nature knows what she is doing and she helps her plants survive the cold winter weather in a number of ways.

• Why do leaves fall?
• Where do leaf colors come from?
• Why do leaves change color?
• Why do some trees turn yellow and others red?
• How do leaves change color?
• Do leaves change color because of weather?
• Why is fall color better some years than others?

Download our Falling Leaves Handout for more information about these questions.

Fall Planting Questions.

Q. Is Fall a good time to plant?
A. Fall is usually the best time of the year to plant trees and shrubs. Fall plantings will:

1. Give your plants a head start for spring.
2. Demand less care because of cooler weather.
3. Provide more pleasant working conditions.

Q. When does "Fall Planting" start?
A. "Fall Planting" begins as soon as the air begins to cool and the days begin to shorten: plants decrease their rate of growth. Experienced nurserymen refer to this as the time when plants "harden off." When you feel that fall "nip in the air," it's a great time to plant!

Q. Do plant leaves stop functioning in the fall?
A. Leaf color may change slightly and the leaves may harden, but they continue to make and store food for the root system. When leaves finally change to their fall color, the food manufacturing process ends.

Q. How does the weather change affect planting?
A. Cooler weather means plants need less water. Newly planted trees and shrubs will have less transplant shock and will need less care later in the year.

Q. What kind of plants can I plant in the fall?
A. Most trees, shrubs, perennial flowers, grasses and roses are easily planted in the fall, as long as weather conditions are right.

Q. How late in the fall can I plant?
A. It depends on the plant. Some trees, like Dogwoods, Magnolias, and other tender trees should not be planted after October because they need to establish new roots before temperatures drop too far. Broad-leafed evergreens should also be planted early in the fall. Most other hardy, woody, ornamental plants may be planted until the ground freezes.

Q. What about planting Perennial Flowers?
A. Perennial flowers are usually best planted and/or divided in the fall, before the ground starts to freeze. Don't resist planting them in the fall just because they happen to be out of bloom. They will have beautiful flowers next year!

Fall Planting Tips

1. Make a basin around each plant that will hold at least 1 gallon of water.
2. Water Plants every day - with a Hose - for the first week.
3. Water Plants at least once a week with a hose for the first Month.
4. Do Not let your plants dry out before the ground freezes solid!
5. Check plants regularly but water only when needed. Evergreen plants need water more often than plants that drop their leaves.
6. Apply Dr. Earth Root Starter when you first plant but do not fertilize after October 30.
7. Fertilize plants with either fertilizer stakes or 16-16-8 fertilizer next March or April.

Remember that some plants need more attention, or water, in the fall than others.

'Spring Blooming' - but 'Fall Planting' Flower Bulbs

J&L offers a full line of spring blooming flower bulbs that have to be planted in the fall. Tulips, daffodils, hyacinth, spring or fall blooming crocus, anemone, scilla, muscari, galathus, frittalaria, just to name a few.

Fall bulbs are perhaps the easiest of all flowers to plant, grow, and have bloom. It is almost impossible to make a mistake planting fall bulbs because all the nutrients the bulbs need to bloom are already stored inside the bulb before you buy them. To keep bulbs healthy year after year requires a little more care. The most important steps for planting and keeping bulbs healthy are:

1. Prepare the soil before planting
2. Choose healthy bulbs
3. Plan your design
4. Plant bulbs properly
5. Take care of your bulbs properly after they bloom.

The hardest part about planting bulbs is deciding which bulbs you like best and knowing when to stop buying bulbs.

Pumpkin Growing Contest

The Saturday before Halloween is our traditional 'Largest-Pumpkin GrowingContest'. If you grow a pumpkin over 30 pounds, you can enter it into our contest. The largest pumpkin entered so far has been over 1,000 pounds which was grown by Kenny Blair in 2006.