Radio Transcript
September 28th, 2026
Tanner Collier

Hello, this is Tanner Collier, the Horticulture Agent with Burke County Cooperative Extension. As we end September and head into October, let’s talk about “planting landscape plants in the fall.”

Fall is the perfect time to plant a variety of plants in your landscape. You might be looking for plants that bloom in the fall or it can be preparation to have blooms in the spring or summer. Either way, this is the best time to plant because temperatures are cooler, there's a higher chance of rain, and the plants are starting to go dormant. Ultimately, these things make the plant more efficient and are less stressful on them.

If you are wanting to add some color around your house pansies, mums, and ornamental kale are great choices to add that pop of color. This is also the time to plant your perennial bulbs and corms and separate any overgrown perennials that are in your landscape. Trees and shrubs can be planted to maximize their growth and vigor and it prepares them to be fully established for the upcoming summer. In the garden, you can plant various fall vegetable crops such as garlic, onions, bok choy, and mustard. You can also plant a cover crop to overwinter your unused garden beds and pots. Contact Burke County Cooperative Extension to learn more about what cover crops you can plant.

This has been Tanner Collier with Burke County Cooperative Extension. If you have any questions or want more information you can contact us at (828) 764-9480.