Today’s Autumnal Equinox marks the astronomical end of summer and the first day of fall for all of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere. And whether you love winter, or hate it, the event means that colder temperatures and longer nights are on the way.
According to the U.S. Naval Observatory, which serves as the official source of time for the country, this year’s equinox occurred today at 3:02 PM. Equinox is a Latin term that means equal, and on this day the sun will set roughly 12 hours after it rose because the Earth is in alignment with the sun, directly over the equator.
Seasons change with the tilt of the Earth’s axis. In the summer, the North Pole is pointed toward the sun, providing the Northern Hemisphere with direct sunlight. Conversely, during the winter the Pole tilts away, and it’s the Southern Hemisphere’s turn for warm weather.
From now, the number of hours between sunrise and sunset will decrease a bit each day until we reach the Winter Solstice in late December. Equinoxes are different than Solstices, which happen in summer and winter, and mark the points of maximum tilt.
New gardeners are often surprised to learn that autumn is an ideal time to plant, but it’s true. The cooling temperatures, more reliable rainfall and shorter, brighter days help plants establish a little easier. There is ample time to develop roots and get off to a great start. And it doesn’t hurt that the Garden Center is discounting trees, shrubs and perennials to clear the yard for winter.
To give your new plants the best chance for success, there are a few points to keep in mind when planting in the fall. Plants need about six weeks to establish roots before the ground freezes. In most years, this occurs in late November, but recently, we’ve experienced very late freezes and I’ve planted as late as early December. Remember that once the ground is frozen, root growth ceases.
If you run out of time, or are seduced by a late fall bargain, you can always heel in plants. Find a very sheltered spot that doesn’t receive much afternoon sun. Place the pots close together and use a few bags of bark mulch to insulate the root balls.
Be sure to watch the watering. Autumn weather can be cool, but dry. Water your plants thoroughly after planting, and continue to monitor the rainfall until the ground is nearly frozen.
Mulch, mulch, mulch. Just as you appreciate an extra blankets as temperatures fall, mulch acts as a quilt for your plants’ roots. It also offers protection from soil moisture loss if we have a dry winter.
Finally, kibe realistic. Plants are entering a stage of dormancy at this time of year, so you won’t see much, if any, growth. This is a good thing. New shoots won’t be able to harden off before winter sets in, but the buds will be raring to go next spring.