By the time fall rolls around, most gardeners have their to-do list on autopilot: mulch, rake, maybe fertilize once more, call it a season. But a lot of the damage that shows up in spring, distressed evergreens, bulbs that never bloomed, perennials that fizzle out, actually started with a fall decision that seemed harmless at the time. Here are five mistakes we see season after season, plus what to do instead.
1. Planting Fall Bulbs Incorrectly
If you want spring color, fall is the time to plant your bulbs! Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other spring-flowering bulbs need that period of cold temperatures to bloom properly in spring. Planted at the wrong depth, facing the wrong way, or in a spot with poor drainage, bulbs can rot, struggle to emerge, or bloom weakly, if they bloom at all.
Instead: plant bulbs at the correct depth with the pointed end facing up, and choose a location with the right amount of sunlight and drainage. Don’t forget to label! It’s easy to forget where you planted what, and a simple marker now saves you from accidentally digging up your own bulbs later.
2. Not Planting Correctly
When planting trees, shrubs, and perennials, it’s important to get the planting depth right. Planting too deep can suffocate roots and invite rot, while planting too shallow leaves roots exposed and vulnerable to drying out or getting damaged during freeze-thaw cycles. Either way, the plant struggles to establish before winter sets in.
Instead: plant trees and shrubs with the root flare at or just above the soil line, and plant perennials at the same depth they were growing in their container.
3. Creating Mulch Volcanoes
Adding mulch before winter is a great idea. It regulates soil temperature and locks in moisture before the ground freezes. But piling it against tree trunks or plant crowns causes problems. That’s called a “mulch volcano,” and it traps moisture against the stem, which can lead to rot and attract pests.
Instead: keep mulch a few inches away from the base of your plants and spread it in an even layer, about two to three inches deep, throughout the rest of your bed.
4. Cutting Everything Back Too Early
It can be tempting to clean up the garden as soon as plants start to look tired, but cutting perennials back too early removes stems and seed heads that provide food and shelter for wildlife through winter, as well as the texture and structure they add to your garden’s winter interest.
Instead: leave perennials standing through winter and hold off on the pruners until late winter or early spring, once you start seeing new growth at the base of the plant.
5. Assuming Dormant Means Dead
As temperatures drop, many plants naturally lose their leaves and go dormant. It’s easy to assume a plant is dead just because it looks bare or stops growing, and pull it out before it ever gets the chance to come back. Deciduous trees, shrubs, and perennials can look very different in late fall and winter, but are simply conserving energy until spring.
Instead: give a bare-looking plant time before you decide to remove it. A quick scratch test on a stem, looking for green just under the surface, can tell you whether a plant is dormant or truly gone.
Putting It All Together
Avoid these common mistakes, and your fall plantings will have a better chance of getting established and coming back strong in spring! If you have questions about planting depth, bulb selection, or what’s dormant versus what’s done for good, stop by our nursery. Our team is happy to help you get it right the first time, and we’ve got everything you need, from bulbs to mulch to expert advice, to set your garden up for a great spring.
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