Ready to switch to a waterwise landscape? Fall is the time to get planning.
Fall is an ideal time to plant shrubs and trees because the temperatures are mild, and the autumn rains provide additional irrigation for the new plantings as they take hold. It is also a good time to assess which existing plants in your garden are thriving versus which have failed to thrive and plan replacements accordingly.
Scope Out Your Site
Which plants are most suitable for water-smart local landscapes? Before choosing plants, it is important to consider the characteristics of your site. Of course, the amount of shade and sun from trees and buildings is of utmost importance when choosing plants. Slope — not just the degree but also the direction the slope faces — is also important. This affects the amount and intensity of sunshine received by the slope and should influence plant choice.
The soil type in your yard – and there may be more than one – is also an important factor. The permeability of the soil is related to its texture or the particle sizes: sand, silt, and clay. In soils with larger particles, like sandy soil, water will infiltrate more rapidly, and less water is retained. You may need to add mulch or other organic matter to the soil. The reverse is also true; finer particles, such as silt and clay, slow infiltration and retain more moisture. Be sure your plant choices fit the soils in your landscape and that you consider the moisture-holding capacity of soils when planning irrigation.
Choose Your Plants
Now the fun part! For guidance on plant selection, we consulted with Shooting Star Nursery in Central Point. They offer a fantastic selection of plant lists and guides on their website, with a special focus on native plants that are generally the best adapted to our climate and the most supportive of native pollinators. Here are their collections:
- Pollinator Garden Sun Mix
- Pollinator Garden Shade Mix
- Waterwise Jewel Tones
- Waterwise Pastel Tones
- Mostly Natives Waterwise Mix
- Drought Tolerant Plant List
Plant Oregon, a nursery in Talent, and the City of Ashland also offer helpful guides to native plants — low-water, shady, firewise, and more. Be sure to check out the “gardens” feature of the city’s website, which features beautiful local outdoor spaces for water-wise landscaping inspiration (tip: hover your mouse over the green boxes to find more information on the plants featured in these gardens).
Consult Your Local Nursery
Plant nurseries are great resources when it comes to choosing plants that will thrive in your garden’s conditions. Some of our favorites include Ashland Greenhouses, Ashland Plant Connection, Grange Co-op, Shooting Star Nursery, and Valley View Nursery.
Top 6 Reasons for Planting in the Fall
- Cool weather means less stress on the plants (and the gardeners!). The best time to plant shade trees is when they are dormant or going dormant.
- The soil is still warm, so root growth continues during the fall months, getting the plant better established for the following summer.
- You can plant more drought-tolerant plants and have to water them less because they will be more established than a spring planting. If we have a dry fall, you will still need to water deeply until the rain is more consistent.
- You can plant more natives and support wildlife and local habitat. – Natives will have happier, established roots with a fall planting.
- The soil is easier to work with than the wet soils of spring.
- Fall is when you plant many bulbs like daffodils, tulips, and alliums.
From Shooting Star Nursery’s Article Fall Garden: What, How, Why