July is the perfect time to begin planning your fall garden. While your summer landscape is still blooming, preparing now gives you time to improve garden beds, select the right plants, and enjoy the best selection when fall planting season arrives.
Whether you’re dreaming of colorful autumn containers, planting trees and shrubs, or growing cool-season vegetables, a little planning now will set your garden up for months of beauty.
Add Beautiful Fall Color
As summer flowers begin to fade, fall favorites can keep your landscape vibrant.
Popular choices include:
- Garden mums
- Asters
- Pansies
- Ornamental kale
- Flowering cabbage
These cool-season plants provide brilliant color throughout autumn.
Include Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses add:
- Movement
- Texture
- Decorative seed heads
- Beautiful fall color
- Winter interest
They pair beautifully with flowering perennials and seasonal containers.
Think About Trees and Shrubs
Fall is one of the best planting seasons in western Massachusetts.
Now is the perfect time to begin planning for:
- Shade trees
- Flowering shrubs
- Evergreen shrubs
- Ornamental trees
- Native plants
Preparing ahead makes planting much easier.
Plan for Spring Bulbs
Now is the perfect time to plan where you’ll plant:
- Tulips
- Daffodils
- Crocus
- Hyacinths
- Alliums
Planning ahead helps ensure a colorful spring display.
Prepare for Cool-Season Vegetables
As summer crops begin slowing down, many cool-season vegetables thrive.
Consider growing:
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Kale
- Carrots
- Radishes
- Beets
Preparing beds now makes fall planting simple.
Refresh Garden Beds
Take time to:
- Pull weeds
- Remove tired annuals
- Add compost
- Refresh mulch
- Improve soil
Healthy soil creates healthier plants.
Plan Beautiful Fall Containers
Combine:
- Mums
- Asters
- Ornamental grasses
- Colorful foliage
- Decorative pumpkins and gourds later in the season
Planning now makes decorating for fall easy and enjoyable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is July too early to plan?
Not at all. Planning now gives you more time and better plant selection.
Why prepare beds early?
Healthy soil makes planting easier and helps plants establish quickly.
When should I plant spring bulbs?
Most bulbs are planted in the fall before the ground freezes.
Can I still grow vegetables?
Yes. Cool-season vegetables perform exceptionally well during autumn.
Why use ornamental grasses?
They provide texture, movement, beautiful fall color, and winter interest.
Visit Us
Whether you’re planning colorful fall containers, selecting trees and shrubs, preparing for spring bulbs, or growing cool-season vegetables, Whitney’s Farm Market & Garden Center has everything you need for another successful gardening season.
Whitney’s Farm Market & Garden Center
1775 S. State Road (Route 8)
Cheshire, MA 01225
Phone: (413) 442-4749
Hours
Open Daily: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Visit us for healthy plants, gardening supplies, and expert advice to help your landscape stay beautiful from summer through fall.
