Mariposa Gardening and Design Blog
Plant Now for a Beautiful Spring
Last Sunday, I spent the afternoon digging, mulching, and planting a new perennial bed in my garden. Looking around me, I observed all the big grasses, dormant but beautiful swaying in the wind, and the marigold still a riot of yellow, herbal-scented blossoms. In the Bay Area we’re extremely lucky to have green plants around us all year long. Although many plants are still lively looking, most are dormant at this time of year, making late fall/early winter the perfect time to plant gardens.
Trees, flowers, and grasses, bushes, vines, and bulbs: a big part of ecological design is knowing and working with the natural life-cycles of plants. By planting now, we fit our processes into the natural processes of the plants and seasons. Transplanting when plants are dormant is much less shocking and allows for better development. This time of year, plants are focused on root establishment and expansion, spending less energy on growing, flowering, and fruiting. This focus on the roots gives plants a great head-start on strong growth in the spring.
Another great reason to plant now is the weather. The soil is still somewhat warm from the summer, but the daytime temperatures are not as high, so plants are able to establish themselves without as much water as those planted in the summer. By planting now, we save also water and energy by using the best irrigation system around--winter rains.