Fall is the perfect time of year to beautify your space for the season and get a head start on your spring garden! Plus, our mild Southern fall temperatures make spending time outside working in your garden even more enjoyable. Here are a few flowers and herbs that are perfect for planting during Southern falls (Zone 8A).
Flowers
Anemones are flowering bulbs that make gorgeous additions to any spring garden, and they’re perfect for including in fresh bouquets! It’s best to plant anemones during fall so they’ll be fully ready to bloom when spring rolls around. Plant them in an area with well-draining soil that receives plenty of direct sunlight during the day. Since Southern winters are usually pretty mild, your anemones should have no problem making it until spring.
Asters are daisy-like perennial flowers that come in various shades of purple, white, and blue. They’re great for attracting birds and butterflies! These flowers do well when planted in fall so they can get established before the first frost hits. Like anemones, asters need to be planted in an area with lots of sunlight and well-draining soil. Once the blooms do eventually fade at the end of fall, you can rest easy knowing they should reappear in your garden around mid-May.
Black-Eyed Susans are hardy, versatile flowers that bloom well into late fall and come back in early summer (as long as you plant the perennial variety). They do best in areas of full sun, and they will need quite a bit of space to grow. They can get up to 6 feet tall depending on the variety– you might need stakes to support these!
Carnations are fairly easy to take care of, they produce a ton of blooms, and they smell great!. They’re also hardy and resistant to cooler temperatures (think 50-65 degrees), making them perfect for your fall garden. Just make sure they’re planted where they can get 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Chrysanthemums (AKA mums) are quintessential fall flowers that come in gorgeous seasonal shades of red, yellow, and orange. The best way to work with mums is to plant them in well-drained soil 4-5 weeks before the first frost. After the first frost, you can cut them back and cover them with mulch to keep them warm and healthy until spring.
Daffodils are flowering bulbs that grow really well when planted in late fall. They actually rely on cold ground temperatures in order for their roots to properly develop, so you don’t have to worry about them not making it through our mild Southern winters. It’s extremely important that you plant your daffodils in well-draining soil so the bulbs and roots don’t rot.
Hydrangeas are gorgeous flowers that are staples in any Southern garden. Smooth hydrangeas are typically the best choice for our area, and they tend to do best when planted in an area that gets partial sun during the day. These flowers are also fairly easy to propagate, which means you can share them with friends and neighbors!
Pansies thrive during the fall when soil temperatures are between 45 and 70 degrees– they actually prefer cooler weather, and they’ve even been known to survive total frosts! Planting pansies is the perfect way to add a splash of vibrant color to your fall garden. Try to place them in an area that gets sun in the mornings only, since too much direct, warm light is not good for pansies.
Phlox are perennial flowers that come in a wide variety of shades, from white to violet to blue. These flowers are great for filling in any gaps in your garden and covering the ground, and you can plant them during fall when the soil is still fairly warm and moist. They grow best when planted in soil that’s mixed with garden compost or well-rotted manure.
Poppies have seeds that need to go through winter’s freeze and thaw cycles to properly germinate and thrive, so it’s best to go ahead and plant them in the fall. They’re great pollinator plants, so they’re likely to attract a host of butterflies and bees that will liven up your garden a little.
Tulips, like daffodils, need to be planted in the fall in order for their bulbs to develop and grow properly in time to bloom for spring. They can even be planted as late as December thanks to our mild Southern winters. Keep in mind that they need to be planted at least 8 inches deep if you want them to thrive!
Herbs
Chives tend to grow best during spring and fall when it’s cool without being overly cold. It’s best to plant them in an area that gets full sun during the day, though they can tolerate a little bit of shade as long as the soil they’re planted in is healthy. Chives also put off beautiful edible flowers and they’re been known to deter pests- huge bonuses!
Cilantro is another herb that thrives during the cooler months of fall and spring. It grows really quickly and in many cases is ready to harvest within a month of planting the seeds. Cilantro should be planted in an area with loose soil, 6 hours of sunlight during the day, and a bit of shade in the afternoons.
Mint typically grows pretty well year-round, fall included. Like many other herbs, it will likely go dormant when temperatures outside drop and come back in spring. Mint plants tend to spread and cover the ground pretty quickly, so plan accordingly when you’re deciding where to place them in your garden. You can usually fully harvest mint 2-3 times per season.
Rosemary is a safe bet for your herb garden this season since Southern falls are so mild. It’s native to Mediterranean countries, which means it thrives in the humid climate the South has to offer. Make sure you leave plenty of space for your rosemary to grow– it can reach up to 5 ft. tall!
Sage is a hardy herb that’s not hard to grow and can easily withstand the cooler temperatures fall brings in. It can even make it through total freezes in some cases. If you want your sage to be lush and flavorful, make sure it’s planted in an area with well-draining soil that receives lots of direct sunlight. Once you harvest your sage, store it in the freezer to help retain the flavor!
Thyme can be planted in late fall as long as it has well-draining soil to grow in and a good amount of direct sunlight. Like rosemary, thyme is native to Mediterranean countries and thrives in humidity, though it is also quite resistant to dry conditions. Your thyme may seem to die off when winter arrives, but it should come back in the spring when it warms up again. If you’re worried about it dying completely in the cold, cover it with a layer of mulch when temperatures drop.
P.S. Here’s a list of local spots where you can pick up your seeds, plants, and other gardening materials this fall:
Montgomery
- Little Mountain Nursery
- Southern Homes & Gardens
- Harwell’s Green Thumb Nursery
- Vinson Market
- Handey’s Farm & Nursery
- Montgomery Farm & Garden
- Farmers Feed LLC
Pike Road
Prattville/ Millbrook/ Wetumpka
- Bernie’s Feed and Garden Center
- Prattville Farm Center
- Ingram’s Farmers Market
- Kendrick Farm Market and Cafe