Yes, the weather is changing. We have passed the fall equinox, and we are now headed to winter. For today’s article, we are going to divide it in two parts: the best plants to plant in the fall, and the best plants for fall and winter interest.

If you are wanting to continue planting into the fall, here what should be on your list:

1. Bulbs, like tulips, daffodils and crocus, which will come up next year.

2. Trees. Now is a great time to plant trees for next year. It is much easier on the trees to be planted with it’s cool.

3. Cover crops for vegetable beds. You can also plant winter cover crops for your vegetable beds which will be turned over and mixed into the dirt in the spring—like a green fertilizer. Try to winter wheat, winter rye, mustard, or crimson clover which will grow and then enrich your beds.

If you want to know what plants look great in the fall, here’s a short list:

Trees. Gingkos turn brilliant yellow in the fall. Maples like Japanese maples will turn all shades of red, orange, and pink. Witch hazel looks really interesting in the fall with yellow and red foliage.

Asters flower late into the fall but would need to be planted earlier. Beautyberry shrubs have bright pink berries for the birds all winter. Also, consider some of the ornamental grasses that are showy all winter long.

We love fall at Art Knapp, and we hope you will come by and visit our store in Surrey to check out our fall ideas for the garden.

Art Knapp has 15 locations across British Columbia and is well known as the go-to garden centre for everything garden-related. Art Knapp, himself, began the business in the 1940's, and now, 80 years later, you can find more than he ever dreamed of in our stores. Come and see us on King George Boulevard in Surrey.

If you have any questions about this article or want to talk to us about gardening, just give us a call at (604) 596-9201.