Fall is For Planting in San Diego County: The Do’s and Don’ts
San Diego County’s mild fall climate allows us to grow a vibrant cool-season garden. Whether planting tasty vegetables or adding a splash of color to slopes, success depends on fall planting dos and don’ts, which we’ll cover.
Gardening in Fall: Tips for Success
We’ll briefly touch on some tips before we dive into our fall planting dos and don’ts.
- Pull weeds
- Pull spent summer crops
- Add compost
- Loosen soil compaction with a broad fork, which allows for air and moisture infiltration
- Mulch and then mulch some more!
Fall Planting Do’s
Prep your soil
We covered most of the basics in our fall garden tips for success, such as removing old summer plants that have stopped producing. We also touched on removing clumps and debris — till or spade soil up to a foot deep. Also, don’t forget to enrich your soil by mixing in a generous amount of organic fertilizer, compost, and manure.
Timing
Get a head start. Hopefully, you have already begun sowing seeds or transplanting, which is typically done from late August to October. By doing this, it gives plants time to establish themselves and grow a bit before the shorter daylight hours arrive (which inhibits their growth).
Choosing the right crops is essential
There are some great crops for growing in San Diego County zones 9 and 10, like spinach, beets, peas, and beans. Besides leafy greens, root vegetables, and brassicas, you can also plant perennial herbs, like feverfew and yarrow.
The following cool-season crops are ideal for Zones 9 and 10:
- Broccoli
- Beets
- Carrots
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Garlic
- Onions
- Lettuce
- Mustard Greens
- Peas
- Radishes
- Spinach
Water Efficiently
To encourage deep root growth, watering deeply and infrequently is essential.
Early fall: Since it may still be warm in early fall, you may need to water 2 – 3 times a week to keep the soil consistently damp.
Morning watering: Watering in the morning allows your plants and lawn to dry before nightfall, which can help prevent disease.
Mulching
Adding a 2 to 3-inch layer of mulch is an excellent way to conserve soil moisture, regulate soil moisture, and suppress weeds. You can use a straw or wood-based mulch.
Install Native Plants to Attract Pollinators
Pollinators are an essential part of our ecosystem. They help a majority of the world’s flowering plants and are key to biodiversity. To attract pollinators, intersperse your vegetable beds with native plants and seasonal flowers, like Dahlias and Zinnias.
The Don’ts of Fall Planting
Don’t wait too long to start planting
If you decide to wait until late November to start planting, it can lead to stunted plant growth, and your cool-season crops may have a poor yield.
Don’t forget to prepare the soil
Failing to amend and prepare your soil with compost and nutrients before planting can result in unhealthy plants.
Don’t overcrowd your plants
Before you start laying down seeds, be sure to read the seed packets and plant labels for spacing recommendations. Overcrowding can increase their risk of disease and prevent root growth.
Don’t overwater
There’s no doubt that we’ll experience dry, hot Santa Ana wind conditions. However, be mindful of watering. Overwatering can lead to root rot and fungal diseases.
Don’t water leaves and stems from above
Watering plant leaves and stems from above can encourage diseases such as powdery mildew. Instead, water directly at the base of your plants — it will get moisture to their roots.
Don’t leave spent summer crops in your landscape
It’s time to make way for your new cool-season garden. So, remove the old, spent summer crops, like vegetables and annuals.
Don’t prune roses too heavily
Heavy pruning encourages new growth. However, the new growth may be vulnerable to the colder fall temperatures.
Experience Quality Service. The Difference...Is Growing
Fall is a wonderful time of year, especially when it comes to planting. Mild San Diego temperatures create favorable conditions for gardening. From Vista to San Marcos, La Jolla, Rancho Bernardo and throughout San Diego County, when it comes to landscape maintenance service you can count on, no one does it better than Westturf.
Call us at 760-650-3120 or message us online for a free quote.
Let's work together
Do you have a landscaping project in mind? is it time for a new HOA landscaping company? Westturf Landscape Management is ready to help. We offer a wide range of services, from synthetic turf installation to weed and brush clearance and complete landscape transformations. When it comes to quality, efficient landscaping services, we have you covered.
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Westturf Landscape Management
701 Mercantile Street
Vista, CA 92083
Phone: 760.650.3120