As a gardener and as a person with very limited heat tolerance, I am thrilled that the autumnal equinox is just a few weeks away! Late summer through November is my favorite and most successful time to plant nearly all types of perennials and woody plants. As heat, sun and evaporation are reduced, the new transplants can establish more quickly and with less stress. They don’t need as much water and shade, so in the fall I can plant in the most exposed, hot and challenging parts of my garden. And thank goodness, because I’ve got dozens of plants still in pots, waiting for gentler planting conditions. And at Harlequin’s, we have a steady stream of late ‘newcomers’ arriving on our tables – beautifully grown plants that are just now ready for sale – and on sale – so come take a look!
Peony shoots emerging in spring
At this time of year, most plants begin transitioning their energy away from flowering and seeding to preparing for winter by taking starches (nutrients) down to the roots. In many plants this is the time when the next year’s flower buds begin to form, even though they won’t emerge until next spring or summer. If you’ve never been aware of this before, take note next spring of how a peony shoot develops; as it elongates, the latent foliage emerges and expands, and gradually, the terminal flower bud or buds are revealed. All of this was actually ‘prepared’ underground the previous growing season. This is why it is so important and beneficial to fertilize plants in the fall to strengthen plants for the spring.
For fall fertilizing, we are stocked with Biosol, Richlawn 5-3-2, and Alpha One. And fertilizing can be augmented by topdressing planting beds (1-2”) and lawns (1”) with a fine compost like EKO Topdressing. Our Fine Wood Chip mulch can be applied over the topdressing to complete the job.