Why is fall planting so good for plants? In the fall, the warm soil encourages root growth (figure A). Roots continue to grow through the winter until the ground freezes, or in areas with mild winters, roots may continue to grow. In early spring, roots begin new growth or continue to develop at a faster rate, and top growth begins. While the same plant planted in spring gets a slow start due to cool soils (figure B), the fall-planted plants are becoming well established. Hence, the spring-planted plant on the right lags behind (figure C). When summer finally arrives, the fall-planted plant is far better equipped to deal with heat and drought, largely due to its well-established root system. Of course, there are plenty of other good reasons to plant in the fall, too, such as dependable rainfall, cooler weather and fewer pest and disease problems. In addition, many plants are on sale at nurseries, which makes fall planting good for you, too.
)
)
)
