Get Ready for Fall Planting

“That old September feeling... of summer passing, vacation nearly done, obligations gathering, books and football in the air...Another fall, another turned page: there was something of jubilee in that annual autumnal beginning, as if last year’s mistakes and failures had been wiped clean by summer.” ~Wallace Stegner

This morning, my neighbor commented that there was a “hint of fall in the air,” and I would have to agree. Days are getting shorter, oaks are heavy with acorns, and the sycamore leaves are decidedly more dusty yellow than apple green. Here in the Valley, we are still having hot days, so summer is not quite ready to go, but it’s definitely time to start thinking about fall planting: the best time to plant natives. 

Planting during October and November is advantageous for several reasons. The dry heat of the summer has subsided, and by the time it comes around again next year, plants have had a chance to develop their root systems and are prepared for the stress. Also, new plants are in a prime stage of development to utilize any winter rains we get between now and February. And lastly, the nurseries are brimming with possibilities, offering the best selection and variety of the year. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden fall plant sale lasts from September 28 to November 2, and features thousands of plants perfect for our area. Manzanita Nursery in Buellton is open on the weekends and offers a knowledgeable staff for help with the myriad of drought-tolerant choices.

There are many reasons to add more native plants in your landscape, but here are the top five according to the California Native Plant Society (www.cnps.org):

• Save Water

Take advantage of water conserving plants in your landscape. Once established, many California native plants need minimal irrigation beyond normal rainfall. Saving water conserves a vital, limited resource and saves money, too.

• Less Maintenance

In a garden environment, native plants do best with some attention and care, but require less water, fertilizer, pruning, pesticides, and less of your time to maintain than do many common garden plants.

• Reduce Pesticides

Native plants have developed their own defenses against many pests and diseases. Since most pesticides kill indiscriminately, beneficial insects become secondary targets in the fight against pests. Reducing or eliminating pesticide use lets natural pest control take over and keeps garden toxins out of our creeks and watersheds.

• Invite Wildlife

Native plants, hummingbirds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects are “made for each other.” Research shows that native wildlife clearly prefers native plants. California’s wealth of insect pollinators can improve fruit set in your garden, while a variety of native insects and birds will help keep your landscape free of mosquitoes and plant-eating bugs.

• Support Local Ecology

While creating native landscapes can never replace natural habitats lost to development, planting gardens, parks, and roadsides with California native plants can help provide an important bridge to nearby remaining wild areas. Recommend native plants to homeowner associations, neighbors, and civic departments.

In addition to these, the very best reason to plant natives is because they are spectacular! Whether it’s a tree, shrub, vine or ground cover, they are definitely some of the world’s most unique and attractive plants. Some folks complain that natives don’t give them the “all-year color” that they insist represents a well-designed and engaging landscape. I deliberately took this photograph of a native garden in late summer to demonstrate the variety of late summer color and beauty.

Located in front of the Historic Museum in Santa Ynez, this garden has interesting texture, form and color all year-round, and requires little water. In August, there were over twenty-five different salvias, sages, lavenders, penstemon, catnip, and rudbeckia still blooming nicely, with grey boulders and cream-colored gravel nicely adding to the overall naturalistic design. Through its collections, exhibits and educational programs, the Museum honors the Valley’s past for the enjoyment of generations to come, and their landscape honors this mission perfectly. 

Fall is a time of harvest and renewal; orange pumpkins and falling leaves prepare us for homemade pies and crackling fires, and the cycle of cleaning up mature plantings and adding fresh new ones eagerly begins again. Whether you begin with one plant or several, you’ll be glad you started early!