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Fall Planting Guide

trial fields in the fall

Our West Michigan trial fields in early fall

Your journey to a beautiful landscape starts here

Selecting the right plants can be intimidating – we make it easy with easy-care shrubs for every climate, taste, and space.

Zone Planting Guide

USDA Zones 2-4

Are you planting an evergreen?

USDA Zones 5-6

Are you planting an evergreen?

USDA Zones 7-10

Are you planting an evergreen?

USDA Zones 2-4

Are you planting an evergreen?

Plant in spring (ideally by early June)

Are you pushing the hardiness zone of the plant, or does the plant typically get damaged in winter in your area?

  • Yes -> plant in spring (ideally by early June)

  • No -> Do you have plans to be away from home for any prolonged periods this summer, especially during the hottest part of the season?

    • Yes -> plant spring-early summer, or in early autumn (by mid September)

    • No -> plant any time from spring through mid September; pay extra attention to water needs if planting during hot and/or dry weather.

USDA Zones 5-6

Are you planting an evergreen?

Plant in spring (ideally by early June)

Are you pushing the hardiness zone of the plant, or does the plant typically get damaged in winter in your area?

  • Yes -> plant in spring (ideally by early June)

  • No -> Do you have plans to be away from home for any prolonged periods this summer, especially during the hottest part of the season?

    • Yes -> plant spring-early summer, or in early autumn (by mid September)

    • No -> plant any time from spring through mid September; pay extra attention to water needs if planting during hot and/or dry weather.

USDA Zones 7-10

Are you planting an evergreen?

Plant in early-mid spring or early-mid fall

Are you pushing the hardiness zone of the plant, or does the plant typically get damaged in winter in your area?

  • Yes -> plant in early spring

  • No -> Plant in spring or fall, timing so that the plant has the longest possible growing period without either hot weather stress or cold weather stress.

The time is now.

Did you know that fall is an ideal time to plant shrubs, trees, and perennials? It’s true: the shorter days and cooler temperatures help plants get established quickly, which means less work for both you and the plant. There’s no better way to ensure a more beautiful spring and summer next year than to plant now.

Whether you are looking for the classic beauty and high performance of Perfecto Mundo reblooming azaleas, the eye-popping color of Center Stage crape myrtle (pictured at right), or want to start on your own personal collection of fabulous hydrangeas, you’ll find the perfect Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrub for your project.

Explore our 320+ different flowering shrubs, save them in a printable wish list, then visit your local garden center to get your new project started. Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs are easy to find, thanks to their distinctive white containers, and you can have confidence, since they’ve all been trialed and tested by expert horticulturists for 8-10 years. That’s why we always say – 

A Better Landscape Starts with a Better Shrub!

center stage red crapemyrtle

Heat Tolerant Shrubs

A row of Sunjoy Mini Saffron barberry creating a low edge in a garden

Shrubs for Shady Spots

Blue hibiscus shrub behind a lounge chair

Shrubs for Sunny Spots

Colorful Shrubs

purple lilac blossoms

Shrubs for Fragrance

Shrubs for Pollinators

hydrangea limelight prime

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How Else Can We Help?

Looking for more gardening inspiration and information? We've got you covered.

Design your dream landscape with our easy-to-use guide
Hydrangeas Demystified - all your hydrangea questions answered
How to Plant a Shrub - it's faster and easier than you think

Check out our YouTube channel!

Whether you’re looking for plant suggestions, gardening tutorials, or outdoor inspiration, you’ll find it on our YouTube channel. New videos are added weekly – we invite you to subscribe so you don’t miss out.

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Gardening Simplified magazine
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