Why Autumn Is The Ideal Time For Planting?

Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:27 pm

When we think of autumn, we think of decay because life retreats during this season. Autumn is therefore also the end of the growing season. We also retreat more and more then and therefore are not so often in the garden. You could almost think that our garden and our plants are in a stand-by mode after the summer. Our green fingers usually only start tingling again in the spring sun. Maybe this is true for you too, although there is still a lot you can do in the garden even or especially in autumn.

Animals make sure, especially in the fall, that they build up a sufficient winter supply so that they have enough to eat to get through the winter well. During the holidays, we actually do the exact same thing, because we also eat more than we normally do during winter holidays. Young plants are also busy in the fall to root well and become stronger so that they are well prepared for the coming year. Therefore, autumn is the ideal season to choose and plant a new hedge.

Why Autumn Is The Ideal Time For Planting?
Many native plants are good for forming a hedge, then think about the blackthorn. (Blackthorn)

Autumn as a rest period

Why Autumn Is The Ideal Time For Planting?


Young plants, just like people and animals, can benefit greatly from periods of rest, because then they can gather strength and root well in their locations. After all, in the spring everyone is busy again at once. So the European autumn is good for the development of the roots and to refuel new energies. The warmth of summer slowly fades, but then it is not immediately freezing. Also, the garden soil remains moist enough in the fall, so that the plant roots can spread and develop well in the soil. For hedge plants that have just been planted, these are of course ideal conditions. By planting your plants in the fall and not in the spring, they can gather enough strength before the first flowering season.

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As (amateur) gardeners, we don’t always think about these relationships. Therefore, when we plant a new hedge, we usually have only one goal in mind: the hedge plants should grow together quickly, so that the individual hedge plants become a solid hedge as soon as possible. However, with a plant that you plant in your garden soil, just like a seed that has just been planted, an incredible amount must first happen below the soil surface before the plants can develop above the soil surface. Therefore, autumn is more suitable for this process than the beginning of spring. Therefore, we recommend you to plant a new hedge already in the fall.

Why Autumn Is The Ideal Time For Planting?
Therefore, autumn is more suitable for this process than the beginning of spring. Therefore, we recommend you to plant a new hedge already in the fall. (Hornbeam)

Prepare your hedge plants for the winter


Europe is now characterized by gentle, wintry periods. Nevertheless, frost can become a risk for young plants. Bare root plants (Wurzelware) then have an increased risk, because the roots of these plants are not yet surrounded by a root ball filled with soil. In addition, we have a tendency to plant around root crops less deeply into the garden soil. In fact, as soon as we want to plant plants with a root ball, then we are more or less forced to dig deeper around the planting holes so that the garden soil remains exactly at the same level as it was before, even after planting.

Many native hedge plants are well suited to form a hedge, then think of blackthorn or hornbeam. So if you plant these plants properly in your garden soil, they will survive a typical European winter without any problems. However, if you choose an exotic hedge plant, then it should definitely be protected from frosty temperatures. Griselinia littoralis, for example, is a pretty evergreen hedge plant that needs a lot of sun and is not particularly hardy. Therefore, it should be protected from frost. Check out our tips for winter protection of hedge plants here to learn more. Therefore, all the plants we sell always clearly indicate whether they are hardy. This allows you to always select a plant that suits you well, depending on how often you want to maintain it.

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Why Autumn Is The Ideal Time For Planting?
Plants that remain green in winter, think here of the cherry laurel, holly or boxwood. (Holly)

Evergreen plants are first


Autumn, of course, is quite a long time. Which month is actually best for planting your hedge? That then depends mainly on the particular plant variety you have selected. The hedge plant selection is very large and each plant variety has its own very unique needs. It is therefore a good idea to make sure that evergreen plants are first in line.

Plants that remain green in winter, think here of the cherry laurel, holly or boxwood, should therefore be planted already at the end of summer or the beginning of autumn. Deciduous hedging plants, such as hornbeam, privet or hawthorn, should be planted later in the fall. Deciduous plants, however, should be given a permanent location in your garden between late October and November. Because these plants have yet to shed their leaves, planting them too early can be detrimental.

As soon as a plant is planted in the garden soil, then it immediately gets a lot of energy. All of a sudden, such a plant then has significantly more space to spread its roots. In addition, the garden soil also has many new nutrients that are important for plants. A deciduous plant can therefore get off to a bad start if the temperatures are still too high when it is planted, which means that it will not develop very well after it has dropped its leaves. If you still prefer to plant your hedge at the beginning of spring, then you should primarily use deciduous hedge plants. However, evergreen and deciduous plants should not be planted during frost.

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Why Autumn Is The Ideal Time For Planting?

A hedge plant for every garden


A healthy hedge will beautify any garden, no matter what hedge you will choose. In addition, a hedge increases the privacy, safety and security of a garden.

Author

  • James Jones

    Meet James Jones, a passionate gardening writer whose words bloom with the wisdom of an experienced horticulturist. With a deep-rooted love for all things green, James has dedicated his life to sharing the art and science of gardening with the world. James's words have found their way into countless publications, and his gardening insights have inspired a new generation of green thumbs. His commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship shines through in every article he crafts.

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