Virginia Climate

• According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), there are 11 climate planting zones in the country. Each zone has distinct planting times that coordinate with the last frost in spring and the first frost in the fall. These zones help gardeners decide which plants will do best in their climate. By knowing which zone you live in, you can avoid planting seeds or flowers too early. Virginia is located in USDA hardiness zone 7, where the temperature can be as low as zero to five degrees F. in winter.
  
  

Planting Fall Flowers

• Mums are a popular fall flower.mums image by Ann Kosche from Fotolia.com
  
  Chrysanthemums are a perennial that do well in the fall, as long as they are moved from their pots to the ground by the end of October in USDA zone 7, according to emmitsburg.net. When buying mums from a nursery, look for those that have buds, but have not yet bloomed. Echinacea (purple cone flowers), and rudbeckia (black-eyed Susans) are perennials that will continue to bloom through the fall because of Virginia's mild fall temperatures.
  
  

Planting Fall Bulbs

• Planting bulbs in the fall will yield beautiful plants in the spring.the gladiolus bulbs image by Igor Groshev from Fotolia.com
  
  Fall is the best time to plant bulbs for spring bloom, and a good time to plant bulbs in Virginia is early to mid-October, at least six weeks before the ground begins to freeze. Bulbs should be planted 4 to 6 inches apart. A rule to follow when planting bulbs is to dig a hole at least three times as deep as the bulb's width, usually 4 to 8 inches, according to plantexpert.com
  
  

Choosing Healthy Bulbs

• When choosing bulbs for fall planting, emmitsburg.net advises against purchasing bulbs with a sawdust-like material in the box. This is a sign in tulips that insects have infested the bulb, lowering its quality. Bulbs should also be firm, because soft bulbs tend to rot once in the ground. Large bulbs usually signify a healthy bulb, but smaller bulbs tend to multiply and will increase over time, according to emmitsburg.net, a Pennsylvania master gardeners' website. Be sure to inspect the bulbs for blemishes before purchasing, and plant them as soon as possible.
  
  

Planting Trees in the Fall

• Fall is the best time to plant trees because the temperatures are cooler and more tolerable to the gardner, and the soil can retain more moisture in lower temperatures. The University of Vermont Extension Department of Plant and Soil science advises gardeners to consider the amount of sun, shade and moisture the designated area will receive when choosing a tree. To check your soil's drainage before planting, dig a hole in the general area in which the tree will be planted, fill it with water, and check back in 24 hours and again in 48 hours. If the water has drained in this time period, then the soil will be able to support a tree. The blackgum tree, sweetgum tree and the redchokeberry tree will all do well in the fall, according to emmitsburg.net.