What can I plant in the midwest this fall?

Question

Is there anything that will still grow or that planting now will grow up in the spring? Besides tulips???

Answer 1

Other spring-blooming bulbs should be ready to plant in a month or 6 weeks in the Midwest. Dom't rush it, or you'll wind up with daffodils sprouting in October. Not good.
As to perennials that are good for fall planting, I often recommend that our clients look to plants developed from native wildflowers. daisies, coneflowers, coreopsis, gaillardia, yarrow,dianthus (like Spring Beauty), and oenothera speciosa (Missouri or Showy Primrose) are often found in garden centers this time of year and ready to go in the ground for the next 6-8 weeks. Often, potted perennials for fall planting are larger than the spring planting offerings, have better developed root systems and need only some good soil and a dose of root stimulator at the first waterings to take off and winter well.
In the greenhouse where I work, we're growing hardy mums for fall color. These look great right up until the first heavy frost and will come back next spring, ready for another round of fun.
Fall (Not August or early September in the Midwest) is also the time for planting most trees and shrubs. Do you love butterflies? Buddleia (butterfly bush) is available now all over the place, is easy to grow and makes a great show in the garden year after year. Varieties will grow anywhere from 3 to 15 feet high in one growing season and will create lots of action in the garden by attracting many types of butterflies.
The possibilities are endless!

Answer 2

There is no end to the perennials you could plant now. I live in lower Mich. and we should have a good 6-8 wks of good growing weather before the big kill hits. If you can find annuals in bloom go for it, but, your best bet is the perennial. And always remember, it's who you know. Any friends or relatives with perennials ? I'm sure they could spare a small piece and even give you better tips for growing them then someone at a local garden center. And if you don't know someone....if you drive by a strangers home and see something you would like to have, just stop and ask if they would be willing to part with just a small piece. You would be surprised how many home gardeners are willing to share not only their plant but their knowledge. And trust me when I tell you, that you will gain more knowledge from "hands
on growers then you will from a book. Growing is never black or
white. Anyone who has been planting for a # of yrs will have a little differant take on how to do something and they learned it two ways: either by listening to other people's experiences or experimenting themselves. I've had gardens for years and there isn't a flower I can't grow. It's not magic, but the info. I gathered from my parents, grandparents,aunts & uncles or neighbors, all of whom were willing to share their wealth of knowledge with me.
Also, if someone gives you perinnials, always cut the pretty flower and a couple of inches off the stem. It puts less stess on the plant when trying to adjust to it's new environment.

Answer 3

Fall is one of the best times to plant. You can plant just about anything (perennials, trees, shrubs) right now as long as you give the plants time to adjust and establish a strong root system before freezer weather sets in. The first winter you might want to mulch around the plants after the first hard freeze to prevent heaving.

Answer 4

Irisis.

Answer 5

Iris's transplant well this time of year, and any annual that you do not need to replant every year.

Answer 6

Are you talking trees, shrubs, flowers?