Fall is also a good time to transplant or dig and divide herbaceous perennials that bloom in the spring or early summer. Additionally, if you are trying to establish a wildflower meadow, fall is the best time for planting wildflower seeds. Plants that do not take well to fall planting are those that are not very cold hardy such as crape myrtles and evergreen magnolias. Ideally, gardeners should have their soil tested for fertility levels several months before planting so that they know how and when to apply fertilizer. Soil testing is a free service of the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
Gardeners can take soil samples to their local county extension office for testing.
For more information on collecting a soil sample and what kind of information you will receive, go to the soil testing page of this website. The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The mention of any commercial product in this web site does not imply its endorsement by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service over other products not named, nor does the omission imply that they are not satisfactory.