Why Martha Stewart's Gardener Loves To Plant These Spring Flowers In The Fall

We've all had the jarring experience of walking into a store on the 4th of July just to be smacked in the face with a slew of Halloween-themed products. While it could be argued that stores lean towards the premature, there is still something to be said for preparing ahead of time. In fact, if you want to get the most out of your springtime blossoms — and help to spread out your labor—you may want to begin planning and planting this fall. And it's not just to ease your way into the season, even Martha Stewart's head gardener, Ryan McCallister, plants certain spring flowers in the fall

The key here is choosing plants that go dormant in the fall and winter — one of the main choices being roses. While they may not bloom for a couple of months, the additional time in the ground gives the plants a better opportunity to become established and to lay down solid roots, which can lead to stronger, healthier plants when spring arrives. Because they have spent more time acclimating themselves, they are also more likely to bloom faster as the temperatures warm, so you will have bigger and more fruitful blooms earlier in the season. If you really want to make the most of a beautiful fall gardening day, try this easy way to refresh your garden before spring planting.

Though you can technically plant a rose bush anywhere between spring and fall — or in warmer climates even winter — the mild temperatures of autumn are the best time of year to plant roses for the following spring. This allows for the plant to grow stronger before blooming without dealing with the hot temperatures of summer, and fall also tends to be a bit more rain-heavy, helping to keep the plants hydrated. If you are concerned about your rose making it through the winter, covering the surrounding area with mulch is a good way to protect the roots from freezing temperatures — but be careful not to make mulching mistakes that could make it difficult for your flowers to bloom. When choosing which roses to plant, it's best to use a bit of discretion. There are many varieties of roses that range in type and needs, so it's best to keep it simple. If you are a newer gardener, consider Knockout Roses (aka Rosa 'Knock Out'), which are notoriously hardy and even self-cleaning, meaning you won't have to spend hours on pruning. 

Though roses are some of the most frequently planted in the fall, they aren't the only plant that thrives on an early schedule. Fruit trees are also known to grow better when given time to establish themselves before the cold weather, and you, of course, cannot forget about your bulbous plants like daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and crocuses, which tend to be springtime favorites.