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Fertilizing in the Fall
by David Salman

As xeriscaping (water thrifty landscaping) is becoming a much more accepted way of gardening in arid climates found all across the western US, it has changed the look of our western gardens. No where is this more noticeable than in the in late summer and fall garden. Unlike more traditional English dominated styles of gardening practiced in the mid-West and East coast with a well established, almost standardized list of plants, xeriscaping emphasizes the concept of regionally suitable plants which includes a growing list of new and unfamiliar native and adapted plant species.

Plant needs are different now than in the spring and summer. In the fall, with all their energy going to the roots, plants don’t want food that stimulates the upper growth. High Country Gardens is a strong advocate of using natural and organic fertilizers to ‘feed the soil’ which in turn converts nutrients into usable forms for root absorption. A healthy, fertile soil is the key to gardening success.

Improve your soil’s fertility and boost the growth and health of beneficial soil microbes by using our Soil Booster Fertilizer Pack. Spread these nutrient rich natural and organic ingredients over the soil’s surface. Lightly scratch them into the top of the soil and apply a nice layer of mulch over the top. Then water the fertilized areas thoroughly if fall rains are lacking.

Lightly scratch granular fertilizers into the top of the soil and where appropriate, apply a nice layer of mulch over the top. Water the fertilized areas thoroughly if fall rains are lacking.

Also, don’t forget to fertilize your low water lawn. October and November are the best months for this. We recommend using Soil Mender 'Turf-Mate', a superior blend of compost, alfalfa meal and humate.

If plants have developed chlorotic foliage (yellow tissue between green veins) over the summer, they are showing signs of diminished iron uptake. Fertilize now with Greensand and water it in with the Saltwater Farms Liquid Seaweed to increase root absorption.

The best time to fertilize in the fall is after a few light frosts or when trees begin dropping their leaves. Though it may sound odd to feed plants now, an ample supply of fertilizer in the fall will give plants a head start when it’s time to grow in the spring.

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The Benefits of Fall Planting

Fall perennial planting can continue through mid-October. This will give roots another two months to get all the nutrients they can from the soil and establish themselves before winter (View our fall-planting illustration). Once established, plants also have a better chance of making it through the heat of July and August.

Compared to spring-planted perennials, which suffer a period of transplant shock, plants installed in the fall grow rapidly in the spring—with both substantial root growth, and more vigorous top growth and flowering.

Because it’s almost a genetic reflex to plant in the spring, changing to fall planting requires a new mind-set. But go ahead, give it a try. If you plan and plant now, you can have a garden all set to bloom in the spring and you’ll be one step ahead of yourself.

Bulbs can be planted from early September to late November or until the soil freezes.


Spring Blooming Bulb Collections for our Pre-Planned Gardens

Add up to two months of additional flowers to your HCG Pre-planned Perennial Gardens. Our companion spring blooming bulb collections let you plant early spring color into pre-planned gardens. The same professional expertise that designed the pre-planned gardens has gone into creating each of their companion Bulb Collections.

August Afternoons Spring Bulb Collection

Cold Hardy Mediterranean Bulb Collection

Sizzling Colors Bulb Companion Garden

Soft Colors Inferno Strip Spring Bulb Collection

Xeric Aroma Fragrant Spring Bulb Collection

For example, the Xeric Aroma Fragrant Spring Bulb Collection for the Xeric Aroma Garden consists of 4 fragrant perennial bulb varieties with individual bloom times ranging from early to late spring. The perennials in the Xeric Aroma Garden come into flower as the last of the bulbs finish blooming. This companion bulb garden adds both fragrance and color as they establish themselves into the fabric of this aromatic group of perennial flowers.

August Afternoons Garden

Cold Hardy Mediterranean Garden

Sizzling Colors Garden

Soft Colors Inferno Strip Garden

Xeric Aroma Garden

We have five spring bulb collections to match some of our most popular pre-planned gardens. These include the August Afternoons Spring Bulb Collection, the Cold Hardy Mediterranean Bulb Collection, the Sizzling Colors Bulb Companion Garden, the Xeric Aroma Fragrant Spring Bulb Collection and the Soft Colors Inferno Strip Spring Bulb Collection.

The bulbs in each of our five spring bulb collections have been selected especially to complement the color themes and match the growing conditions preferred by our pre-planned perennial gardens. Dig these collections into existing gardens and relax. You’ll have a great surprise when you look out and see that first burst of early spring color.