Planting and transplanting in the fall: our tips for success

Autumn is the ideal season for planting and transplanting. It gets colder and wetter and your plants put their roots better into the ground. But why is that? And what's wrong with planting in the spring? We share our tips to start planting and transplanting your favorite flowers in the garden yourself.

We believe that autumn is the new spring. Why? Simple: autumn is the ideal period for planting and transplanting, because the temperature drops and it becomes more humid. In contrast to spring, which is currently (with the exception of the spring of 2024) rather warm and dry . Because if you are planting new plants in the ground, or you want to transplant, the conditions in autumn are much more suitable.

Of course! There are plenty of reasons why spring is also very suitable for planting and transplanting. The soil is warming up again, after a long winter, and rain is also more common. But it is not a certainty. And there is a good chance that you will have to water more often, because the sun shines more often and the soil dries out faster. All not insurmountable, but important to think about. It requires more frequent monitoring , especially when it has been dry for a long time. Planting and transplanting in the fall is simply a bit easier. And that is allowed sometimes, right? We have found that plants then take root a bit faster and better and thus get off to a better start in the spring.

Planting new plants (whether they are perennials or shrubs and trees) is possible as long as it does not freeze. And because our winters are wet rather than very cold, that is a long time. A little night frost is not a problem. As long as you can easily get into the ground. Autumn is therefore a great time to create new borders or make adjustments to your garden. Important if you want to plant now: make sure your plants get enough water. If it does not rain for a while in autumn (not an exception), it is important to give them extra water.

But you can't just plant in the fall, you can also transplant . Perennials that have already finished flowering can be cut back and taken out of the ground, for example to put them somewhere else. This way your plants will be fully rooted in the spring and will be better able to withstand any drought. It saves a lot of hassle. You can transplant as long as it is not freezing, but preferably - especially with perennials - when the ground is still a bit warm .

Whether you want to transplant a perennial, or you want to plant a shrub or tree: it is important that the plant is dormant. This means that in the case of deciduous shrubs and trees, there are no leaves left on the plant. And that perennials prefer to be dormant before you want to plant or transplant them. The more leaves there are, the greater the chance that the plant will evaporate and therefore need more water. Because the latter is especially important, after all, you want there to be enough moisture available for your plants to quickly and properly put their roots out in the ground. So you don't just plant or transplant in the fall.

In the autumn you often find roses, hedges, shrubs or trees that are offered with a so-called bare root or root ball . Such plants are not in a pot, only have roots and must be planted fairly quickly in the autumn. They are often much cheaper than the specimens that are grown in a pot. Logical, because there is less work and fewer raw materials are needed from the grower to be able to sell them. Plants that are offered in a pot, often perennials and shrubs, can be planted all year round. It goes without saying that planting in the summer is not recommended, because of the heat and drought, but in theory it is possible. As long as you provide the plants with sufficient water. Such specimens are more expensive, but can be offered for sale by the grower for a longer period. Incidentally, the strongest plants are those that are outside. Greenhouse plants often need more time to adapt.

Annuals or frost-sensitive plants are a separate category, you better not plant or transplant them in the fall. Simply because they cannot tolerate frost and die when the temperature drops below zero. Usually the general rule for these types of plants is: plant after the Ice Saints in May. Then the chance of night frost has passed and they grow like crazy thanks to the sun that warms the ground and air.

If you are planning to transplant perennials, it is advisable to give them a rejuvenation treatment right away. This means that you do not transplant old mother plants in their entirety to a new location, but first divide them to get several new plants. This is a cheap way to propagate your plants. If you are brave, you can divide them by pulling a spade through your plants. If you want to take it a bit easier, you can cut through the roots of the plants with a hori hori knife, for example. Plants that lend themselves well to being divided during transplanting: lady's mantle, larkspur, echinacea, Michaelmas daisies and hostas, among others. Dividing is transplanting with courage, and realizing that your plant will benefit from it.