If you live in Michigan, spring probably feels like the obvious time to start planting. The snow is gone, garden centers are busy, and the whole yard finally looks ready for attention.
But spring is not your only planting window.
In a recent Hire It Done episode, Adam Helfman spoke with Ashley Thomas of Sherwood Forest Garden Center about why late summer and fall can be one of the most practical times for homeowners to plant trees, shrubs, and perennials. The biggest reason is not complicated: you still need to care for the new plant, but you have a shorter stretch of hot weather to manage before frost and dormancy.
That can make fall planting easier on both the plant and the homeowner, especially when the project is planned around the actual conditions in your yard.
Spring Is Not Your Only Window
A lot of homeowners treat landscaping like a spring-only project. They see a tired yard in August and decide to leave everything alone until April.
Ashley pushed back on that idea during the episode. Her point was that planting can continue while the ground is workable. In Michigan, that can carry well into fall depending on the weather.
The important part is not the month printed on the calendar. It is whether the plant can be installed properly, watered consistently, and allowed to settle before the ground freezes.
That makes late summer and fall useful for homeowners who missed the spring rush or who are only now seeing what needs to change in the yard.
Fall Can Reduce Watering Work
New plants need attention. There is no way around that.
Ashley described it as a babysitting job. If you plant a tree in spring, you are responsible for keeping it watered through the summer heat and all the way to the first frost. That can mean months of watching the soil, adjusting for dry spells, and making sure the roots are actually getting water.
Plant later in the season and the same rule applies, but the active watering period is shorter.
Once the plant goes dormant, the homeowner is no longer trying to carry fresh growth through the hottest part of the year.
That does not mean fall planting is maintenance-free. It means the calendar can work in your favor.
Water the Roots, Not the Leaves
Timing only helps if you water correctly.
One of the simplest points in the episode was also one of the most useful. Ashley described homeowners spraying plants from the deck and assuming that wet leaves mean the plant has been watered.
The roots are what need the water.
For recently planted material during hot, dry weather, she recommends staying consistent and favoring morning or evening instead of the hottest part of the afternoon.
If a plant looks stressed, do not automatically add more water to the leaves. Check the soil and make sure water is reaching the root zone.
Match the Plant to the Property
Fall is also a good time to notice how your yard actually behaves.
Where does the sun hit in the afternoon? Which beds stay shaded? Where does water collect after a storm? Which areas dry out first? What plants are already struggling?
Those details matter more than the photo on the plant tag.
Ashley gave a strong piece of advice in the episode: "Don't necessarily pick the prettiest tree. Pick what's best for your area."
That is especially important around the house. A tree that looks perfect beside a front window today may become a problem when the roots and canopy mature. Large roots can affect nearby concrete, while overhanging branches can crowd the roof and add leaves and debris to gutters.
The right plant is the one that fits the conditions now and still makes sense years from now.
Clay Soil Changes the Planting Method
Many Michigan homeowners deal with heavy clay soil. That does not mean you cannot plant successfully, but drainage needs to be part of the plan.
Ashley compared clay to a container that holds water. If you dig too deep, the root ball can sit in a pocket where water does not move away quickly enough.
A plant can then look stressed even though the problem is too much water around the roots, not too little.
This is where professional installation can matter. Planting depth, soil conditions, drainage, mulch, and the location of the root ball all need to work together.
If your yard has known wet spots, tell the landscaper before the design is finished. Sometimes the solution is a different plant. Sometimes the site needs drainage work first.
Use Fall to Plan Spring Projects
Not every fall landscaping project has to be planted immediately.
If you want a larger redesign next year, fall is a smart time to start the planning process. Ashley recommends looking at the sun exposure, shade exposure, existing plant material, wet areas, dry areas, and anything that needs to be removed.
That information gives a landscape designer a real starting point.
It also helps you avoid the spring problem Adam brought up on the show: homeowners wait until the weather breaks, call a good contractor, and find out the schedule is already full.
A better approach is to design before you are in a rush.
You can decide what stays, what goes, where drainage needs attention, and which plants will provide color at different times of the year. Then, when the planting window opens, the plan is already on paper.
Plan for More Than One Season
A well-designed landscape should not peak for two weeks and disappear into green for the rest of the year.
Ashley talked about using different plant colors and bloom times so the yard changes through the seasons. A Japanese maple can add red foliage. Boxwoods can keep evergreen structure. Hydrangeas and salvia can add color at different points in the growing season.
The exact combination will depend on your yard, but the planning principle is simple: think about the calendar, not just the day you shop.
That is another reason fall is valuable. You can see mature plants, changing foliage, tired annuals, dry spots, and other real conditions that may be less obvious during the spring rush.
Start With the Budget Early
A landscape plan also needs to fit your budget.
Near the end of the episode, Ashley said the budget conversation should happen right away. That gives the designer a realistic target instead of creating a plan that has to be dismantled once pricing enters the conversation.
If the full project is too much for one season, break it into phases.
You can start with a smaller tree instead of paying for a more mature specimen. You can complete the front beds first and handle the backyard later. You can solve drainage before adding decorative planting.
The important thing is that each phase should fit into one overall plan.
That keeps you from paying to undo work later.
What to Ask Before You Plant
Before you hire a landscaper or buy plants, ask a few practical questions:
- Does this plant fit the sun and shade in this location?
- How large will it become?
- Will the roots or canopy affect the house, sidewalk, driveway, or utilities?
- How does water move through this area?
- How much watering will a new plant need before dormancy?
- Is deer pressure a problem here?
- Can the project be installed in phases?
Those questions turn landscaping from impulse buying into home improvement planning.
The Best Time Is the Time You Can Manage
Fall planting is not a magic shortcut. You still need the right plant, proper installation, consistent watering, and a plan that fits the property.
But if you have been waiting for spring because you assumed that was your only good option, the Hire It Done conversation with Ashley Thomas offers a useful reset.
Late summer and fall can give Michigan homeowners a practical planting window, a shorter stretch of active watering, and more time to plan larger work before the next spring rush.
Look at the yard now. Notice what is struggling. Map the sun, shade, and drainage. Talk to a qualified landscape professional about what can be planted this season and what should be designed for next year.
The goal is not to rush the yard. It is to stop waiting until the busiest moment to start thinking about it.
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