Fall Planting: How Late Can You Go?

Fall is a great time for planting. As we get past mid-October, though, the question is how late in the season can you plant?

Many years ago, I had an entire landscape installed in the first week of November! When I asked the landscaper about whether late fall planting was a good idea, he assured me that as long as I watered consistently until the ground froze and then continued to water again in the spring, everything would be fine. He was right! All the plants — trees, shrubs and perennials — took and grew the next year. This was a landscape filled with native and very hardy trees, shrubs and perennials, so it was well suited to fall planting.

Sedum and other hardy plants do well when planted in fall.
Sedum and other hardy plants do well when planted in fall.

Not everything can be planted in late October or November. The University of Minnesota recommends that spring-blooming bulbs, for example, be planted by mid-October. If you are dividing perennials you already have planted, divide spring and early summer perennials in fall and fall-blooming perennials in spring, the U of M recommends. If you are planting something that “pushes the zone,” you also may want to do that in spring or early fall in order to give the less-hardy plant a chance to get acclimated before winter sets in.

When planting in fall, be sure to add a layer of mulch around the plants. The goal of the mulch is not to protect the plant from cold temperatures but to even out the temperatures in spring so the plant doesn’t thaw and then freeze again and experience frost heaving, which can cause serious damage or death to the plant.

One big incentive to plant in fall is that many nurseries have great deals on trees, shrubs and perennials as the gardening season wraps. Check out our Discount Partner list for high-quality nurseries that cater to northern gardeners.

Want to learn more? Read up on when to plant ornamental and edible plants depending on the type of plant.

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11 Comments

  1. Can I still plant zone 4 perennial seed?

  2. Sandy Dunbar says:

    We have Hydrangeas in pots that need to be planted but don’t know if we’re to late .

    1. Mary Lahr Schier says:

      It’s getting late for them to root in in the ground. You might want to dig the hole where you want the plant to go, and then place the pot there until spring.

      1. Hello could I just leave it in the pot..?? And wait to plant in the spring instead of digging hole and plant it with the pot..?

        1. Unfortunately, in the pot the roots can freeze and kill the plant. The roots need to be underground and insulated through the winter.

  3. I have a need to plant two trees to honor the loss of two babies. What can I plant now – before the ground freezes?

    1. Mary Lahr Schier says:

      It’s not the best time to plant trees, but if you must, choose something native to Minnesota and make sure to water it regularly (like daily) until the ground freezes. Our condolences on your loss.

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