Inflation, supply chain issues, and food shortages are all great reasons to grow your own food. While there are some minimal up-front costs, it can really save you money and improve your health in the long run. September marks the beginning of the second cool weather planting season here in the Pacific Northwest. It is a great time for starting a fresh round of cool-season and overwintering crops. This includes lettuce, spinach, and other greens, as well as broccoli, cauliflower, fava beans, garlic, onions, radishes, shallots, and turnips. If you’re planting crops in the same beds that you grew summer vegetables and fruits, be sure to add compost to replenish the soil. If you’re not planning on growing a cool-season garden, try filling your beds with cover crops that will help replenish the soil with nitrogen and other nutrients. Some good choices include crimson clover, fava beans, and field peas.
The beginning to middle of autumn is one of the best times for planting lawns, trees and shrubs, ground covers, hardy perennials, and even bulbs for spring bloom. Cooler weather puts less stress on the leaves, but the soil is warm enough to encourage root development. Most cold hardy perennials thrive with fall planting since their root systems can grow all winter and emerge in the spring ready to grow.
Fall is a great time to either start a new lawn or rejuvenate an existing one. The soil is still warm from the summer months, but the air temperature is cooler, making it ideal for seed germination. The general rule of thumb is to seed 45 days prior to the estimated first frost date to allow the grass to get established. For established lawns, overseeding can help rejuvenate older areas. You’ll need to start this a month prior to the first fall frost. The Willamette Valley usually see its first frost in the second half of October.
For a new lawn, you’ll need to prepare the soil prior to planting seed or installing sod. During drier months our Soil Mix will be your best choice to help with water retention. As Fall weather approaches, either Soil Mix or Lawn Base can provide good results. Ask about our time saving Blower & Conveyor services to help with the soil installation.
Need to do some clean up before starting your next project? We accept and recycle the following items: Green Waste (grass clippings, leaves, branches), Concrete, Dirt, Rock, and Sod. Highway Fuel has everything you need to complete your landscaping projects from soil blends and compost to bark and rock products.