Even though we are still technically in the last few days of summer, every year about this time I find I must wrap my mind around the fact that summer is over, and the rainy season is soon to begin.
I need to get emotionally ready to put the gardens to bed. It is not an easy thing for me, especially this year, as it has been such a lovely growing year. Warm summer days and cool nights are a couple of reasons I love gardening on the North Oregon Coast. I hate to see those lovely days of summer come to an end.
There are lots of chores to do yet in the garden in late September and early October; cutting back hosta before they get slimy, raking leaves, and digging up annuals are just 3 things that have to be done. But I canât really enjoy those tasks until I get mentally ready to do them. Once my brain is ready, I find my body is more willing to complete the to-do list.
Although before I do start those chores and to shut things down and put tools and patio furniture away, I find myself walking through the gardens and seeing what will need changing in the 2025 gardening year. Inevitably I find a few plants that are not happy in their current location and will need to be moved to a better spot.
Along the lines of hearing my mother say, âNever put off to tomorrow what you can do todayâ and âNo time like the present,â I decided to do that moving now instead of in April or May. I realize that fall planting may seem counterintuitive, but there are some valid reasons for planting now.
First of all, the plants will be happier if I move them now. If they arenât doing well, it is probably because the growing conditions arenât what they should be: not enough sun, too much sun, not enough water, or too much wind. By moving them sooner rather than later, they will be happier sooner, too.
Besides, the ground has warmed from the summer heat and it gives a nice, cozy âblanketâ for the roots to anchor into. The plant will have time to settle itself in before winter comes and the soil cools.
Another reason to plant in September is Mother Nature will take over the watering chores in a few more weeks. We didnât get much rain this summer â not really complaining about that â and I do get tired of hauling out the hoses and watering cans every few days to soak the ground around the plants. The plants I put in this year are especially susceptible to lack of water, but even the older and more established plants seemed to be stressed by the end of August. If we plant in September, we only have to ensure enough water gets to the roots for a couple of weeks. After that, it wonât be an issue.
Yet another reason for fall planting is that it is the time when the nurseries â especially the big ones in Portland and Salem â have their big end-of-season plant sales. This is the time to find perennials and shrubs to fill in spots in the garden. I also like to pick up a few pansies and primrose as they prefer the cooler temps and may bloom into early winter for me.
And the final reason for fall planting is my energy level. I find myself less and less able to spend multiple hours in the garden and I donât see that improving with my age. So, before six or seven months go by and I donât have enough energy to move a plant or two, I will do it now.
The time to really shut down the garden will come soon enough. Fall is the perfect time to revitalize the garden so it will be up-and-running come March.
