We tend to think of fall as the harvest season, but it’s an opportune time for planting, too. Including a few choice species in your lawn and garden as part of your game plan to prepare for winter will help ensure that your entire yard stays as healthy as possible throughout the cold.

Tips

Here’s NexGreen’s recommendations for what to plant in the fall.

Grass

grass-blades

You may believe that grass simply dies with the frost, but it often actually goes into a state of dormancy. Grass is highly resilient and capable of surviving under unfavorable climate conditions, including the cold of winter. You may have noticed that in spring you don’t need to plant an entire new lawn; your brown grass returns to being soft and green after some warmth and water. Planting additional grass seed in fall is called overseeding, and it helps your lawn become stronger and more resistant to disease, as well as preventing weed growth.

Evergreens

evergreen

Plants of this type are famous for maintaining their hue throughout winter – hence the name. You’ve probably seen many Eastern White Pine and Blue Spruce trees, which both produce pine cones. However, there are many other kinds of evergreen plants you might also want to consider, like Japanese holly or littleleaf box. Some evergreens also produce flowers in warmer months, making them an attractive part of your garden throughout the year.

Violas

viola

The advent of winter is usually associated with the disappearance of flowers, but in fact, there are some varieties that are tough enough to withstand the chill. Violas are beautiful, and they’re famous for their ability to persist in lower temperatures. Violas are an excellent example of what to plant in the fall because there’s still sunshine, and this allows the plant to develop its root system that will sustain it during the winter. Be sure to provide regular doses of fertilizer to violas as they’re growing to achieve the healthiest, most vibrant flowers.

Winter Jasmine

jasmine

Along with violas, this is another option for those who hope to see flowers in their gardens during cooler months. Winter jasmines are so named because they’re tolerant of the cold; in some cases, this variety has been observed blooming during the winter. The petite, yellow flowers produced by this plant look beautiful beside snow and create a festive environment for the holiday season.

Kale

purple-kale

Ornamental kale is another good choice for keeping color in your lawn during winter. These hardy plants prefer the cool weather and actually become more richly pigmented when the temperature starts to fall. They have been known to tolerate temperatures as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit. This type of kale is edible but bitter, so if you’re planning to include it as part of a meal, the leaves must be boiled first. It’s also a wonderful choice for decorative purposes alone. NexGreen is here to help you plan what to plant in the fall, prepare for winter, and keep your yard healthy year-round. Follow our Twitter for more tips on lawn care, and feel free to contact us with any questions.