Here's What to Plant in the Fall for the Prettiest Spring Yard

• Autumn is the perfect time to plant bulbs, perennials, and more before winter sets in.
• Next spring, your new plants will get off to a stronger start.
• After a steamy summer, autumn's cooler air temperatures are easier on both plants and gardeners, but the soil is still warm enough to allow roots to grow until the ground freezes.
• Fall showers are generally plentiful, but it's easy to deeply water plants if it doesn't rain at least an inch per week.
• Pests and disease problems also fade away in the fall.
• Plus, the late season is often bargain time at garden centers that are trying to sell the last of their inventory before winter.
• Look for deals on spring-blooming bulbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs, which can all be planted in the fall, up until your area gets hit with a hard frost.
• And don't forget your lawn; cool-season turfgrass can be seeded this time of year, too.

Summer may be on its way out, but your flowerbeds don't have to be!

Don't forget to whomp up your curb appeal with fall porch decorating ideas and fall craft projects like wreaths, garlands, pumpkins, gourds, and containers.

There are plenty of plants that can add pizzazz to your yard from that Indian summer through winter's first chill. You’ll love the purple berry-covered beautyberry, bright sunflower lookalikes heliopsis, and butterfly-attracting heleniums.

Looking for stems that feel more seasonally appropriate? Opt for the steely silver dusty miller, or plant the white sweet autumn clematis in your garden for a fresh new flower whose sweet vanilla scent smells just as good as it looks.

You can also step up your farm-to-table game, thanks to durable herbs like parsley and fresh rosemary.

Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity.     

Lindley Karstens