Autumn is prime time for planting perennials that will brighten your garden the next season and for years to come. The relatively mild temperatures and bright sunny days help fall perennials get established and start growing their root systems before cold weather sets in. You can choose from a wide range of perennials to plant in the fall, from spring bulbs to summer stunners to the season’s latest bloomers. Get them in the ground in autumn and the show will begin when the weather starts to warm again. Here’s how to choose the best options for you, tips for planting them successfully, and how to maintain perennials in fall.
What Perennials to Plant in the Fall
Your best mix of perennials for fall planting will include varieties that bloom at different stages of the season.
Winter wonders
You don’t have to wait until spring to see flowers blooming in your garden. Hellebores and snowdrops show up while the temperatures are still freezing outside.
Spring bulbs
Crocus come up first in shades and patterns of purple, pink, yellow, and white. Daffodils can be big and bold or petite and subtle, and everything in between. For the most vivid hues, include tulips that bloom in red, pink, or orange. The purple globes of alliums and fragrant, frilly lilies shine as spring turns to summer.
Early risers
Creeping phlox spreads into a carpet of color on the first warm days of spring. Red or orange, poppies light up the landscape when their fluttery flowers open. The tall stems and dramatic blooms of irises are sure to be a standout in your spring display.
Summer loves
Bright sunny days bring out the daisies and daylilies. You’ll attract pollinators and admirers to your garden with the spidery red, pink or purple flowers of monarda. You won’t find a summer perennial that is more carefree than coreopsis.
Late bloomers
The vibrant blooms of asters and chrysanthemums shine when most other perennials are fading away. Helianthus ‘Autumn Gold’ is a perennial sunflower that peaks in fall.
How to Plant Perennials in the Fall
Right spot
You’ll have the most success if you plant perennials in conditions where they thrive. Some require full sun and dry soil, others do best in partial shade and damp soil, and there are many gradations in between. Check on the needs of the perennials you want to grow before placing them. Consider how the seasons affect the conditions. Many spring bulbs need full sun, for instance, but you can plant them beneath large trees because the flowers will be done blooming before the tree leaves emerge and shade them.
Soil prep
You plant perennials once and they come back for years, so your only chance to give them a healthy environment is before they go in. Test your soil to be sure it has the right pH for the species you are planting. (The Deluxe Soil Testing Kit gives you quick, easy, and accurate results.) Loosen the soil in your bed and work in plenty of compost to give the new plants room and nutrients for their roots to grow right away. Add biochar to activate the soil ecosystem that nurtures plants.
Best time
If you can, ease your perennials into their new homes on a warm, overcast day or, even better, just before a lightly rainy day. That allows the plants to recover from the stress of transplanting and begin to extend their roots.
Settling in
Be sure to follow the plant tag directions when you place your fall perennials in the holes you’ve dug for them. If they’re too shallow, they may not survive the cold. Too deep and they may not be able to break through in the spring. Firm the soil around the plants after setting them in to be sure the roots have contact with soil, but don’t tamp it down hard, which may suffocate the roots. Water them in well.
Natural insulation
Spread a layer of natural mulch such as shredded leaves or grass clippings around perennials after planting in the fall. This helps the soil to retain moisture while the plants absorb it. It also moderates temperatures in the top few inches of soil, preventing freezing and thawing that can heave perennials out of the ground. The natural materials nourish the soil as they decompose over the winter.
Seasonal care
Cutting off and cleaning up the dead foliage from perennials in fall eliminates places for damaging insects and fungi to get close to your plants. But not all perennials need to be cut back or cleaned up. Leave seed heads standing on echinacea, coreopsis, and ornamental grasses, and you’ll attract birds chipmunks, and other small mammals to your yard during winter. Cut them back when spring comes and your fall-planted perennials are ready to emerge again.
For more ideas to make your spring garden pop, check out Burpee's guide on bulbs to plant in the fall.
As September and October shift into cooler temperatures, your thoughts might turn to pots of mums and tidying up your garden. But it's also an ideal time to consider what perennials to plant in the fall. Planting them now and giving them a chance to get rooted gives you a jump start on spring color from coral tulips and sunrise peonies to purple crocus and ruby-red echinacea.
Here's a quick primer on what perennials to plant in the fall, how to divide your perennials, how to trim and protect perennials for the winter, and tips on what perennials should not be cut back in the fall.
What to Plant in the Fall
If you're looking to add to your garden and see those sunny flowers in early spring, you can plant a variety of perennials in the fall to be enjoyed the next year.
Choose Floral Showstoppers
Layered large blooms of peonies, velvety ruffles of irises and carnival pops of color from daylilies can be the stars and showstoppers for flower gardens and home landscaping. Fall is the best time to invest in these beloved, dependable perennials that will bring fragrance and beauty to your home for decades to come.
You can order these flowers in fall as bulbs, bare-roots or potted plants. Check labels for instructions on planting depths, as these can differ. A peony, for example, needs its"eyes" — the tip of the tubers where the plant sprouts from — near the surface of the soil or you might not get any blooms.
Plant Spring Bulbs
Start with purple crocus and sunny bicolor daffodils if you're craving the earliest possible spring colors, as they can be tenacious enough to push through light snow. A vibrant tulip bed can complete the spring spectacle. Look for a ready-to-go blend of tulips, or mix your own with bright and subtle colors, striped patterns or fringes for a variety of looks. Purchase a blend of early, mid-, and late-spring bulbs for continuous blooms.
Add Unexpected Colors
For something surprising for the next growing season, consider a few color twists on familiar perennials: stunning yellow 'Itoh Bartzella' or 'Coral Charm' peonies; rich reds, oranges and yellows of the 'Warm Summer' echinacea; or the bold 'Starry Starry Night' hibiscus, which has dramatically dark foliage.
Adjust to Your Climate
When it comes to what perennials to plant in the fall, another consideration is shifting weather. If your part of the country has had extended droughts or water shortages, consider adding more drought-resistant perennials to your garden. Besides being an environmentally responsible gardening method, it's a low-maintenance way to enjoy flowers and foliage without the hassle of watering.
Prepare Your Beds for Next Spring
If your garden is already bursting with perennials, fall is also the time to do other perennial prep work for your spring garden.
Divide and Expand Plants
Fall is an ideal time to divide any perennials you may have if you're thinking of expanding your spring garden. Plant them in new areas for a bigger show of color, and fill in the spaces with spring bulbs or trendy new perennials.
To divide perennials such as hosta and daylilies, dig around them carefully, then shake off or hose off excess dirt. Some plants and roots will pull apart with a gentle but persistent pull, but more overgrown ones will need a sharp knife or spade to split the roots. While any knife works, a dedicated garden knife can be sturdier and double as a measuring stick when planting.
Trim Back Some Perennials
Fall also is the time to trim back foliage on perennials. If leaves are left to droop and rot in cold rains, the debris can attract fungus, slugs and bugs that may lay eggs in the old leaves. Clip daylily, peony and hosta leaves. Cut iris leaves down to a small fan shape, and trim back woody stems on other perennials as they go dormant.
Leave Some Foliage Untouched
Not all perennials need to be cut back or cleaned up. It's helpful to leave a few untouched for the winter, especially seed heads. You may see birds feeding off echinacea, coreopsis and other seed heads. Decorative grasses and some sturdier perennials also can provide shelter for birds and small creatures during the winter while livening up the winter landscape as frost covers them.
Add Insulating Mulch or Leaves
If you're in the northern states or at higher elevations with snow and ice storms, protect and insulate your perennials — especially any new ones — with a layer of fall leaves or mulch. This helps regulate temperatures at the soil level, keeping plants from freezing over the winter or sprouting prematurely in the spring.
While fall may seem like the time to put away the tools and wrap up the garden year, you can get a jump start on next year's spring blooms by planning ahead and planting perennials to be enjoyed year after year.
For more ideas to make your spring garden pop, check out Burpee's guide on bulbs to plant in the fall.