I know it is just August, but now is a great time to be planning, selecting and getting prepared for the best time of the year to plant.

Fall is a fabulous time to plant most trees, shrubs, perennials and ornamental plants. Also, there is a great variety of fall vegetables that will keep you harvesting into the colder months.

There are several reasons why it is better to plant in the fall. The most important is soil temperature.

Roots grow their best when the soil is warm, not cool. Somewhere between 55 and 75 degrees is a good range. When a plant is installed in the fall, it has several weeks of vigorous root growth to prepare itself for the winter dormant season.

Spring plantings get a slow start due to cooler soil temps, while fall plantings are already well established and better equipped to deal with heat and drought. Planting in the fall ensures a more healthy plant.

Basically, the ideal period for fall planting is roughly six weeks before the first hard frost. September and October around this area usually provides ideal temperatures for getting perennial plants off to a good start.

There are good economic reasons for planting in the fall, too. Most nurseries around town have plants that have been growing all summer long in the same container. These plants are bigger and will make more of an immediate impact in your landscape.

And prices may be lower because it is the end of the season. So look around for stores wanting to reduce inventory for the winter months. Just remember most perennials and plants like daylilies and hostas may not look so good at this time of the year, but buy them anyway. They can get well established through the fall and winter and look beautiful in your landscape next year.

Remember soil bed preparation is still important with fall planting. Getting a soil sample analysis from your local extension office will help with soil pH.

Adding a 2-inch layer of bagged soil conditioner, or better yet, some rich compost and manure tilled into the planting beds, will help with planting. The peril of most plants is a poor soil environment, so make sure you have good fertile soil in place. The quality of your preparation will determine the success of your garden.

I personally would rather forgo the seeds and plant transplants for plants such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and kale. Leafy lettuces are also a great cool weather crop to plant. Make sure the soil is kept moist on your transplants, because even short periods of dryness can put a kink in their growth curve. To keep the soil moist, keep mulch around your plants, too.

Most fall crops should be planted in mid August through mid September in our area. If you need information concerning the right times to plant, call the extension office. We can provide planting charts and harvest schedules to make sure you plant cool season vegetables at the right time.

Of course, there are still many more reasons to plant in the fall, such as cooler weather, hopefully dependable rainfall and fewer pest and disease problems. And it is a great time to grab some plant bargains and get out and enjoy the brisk autumn air right around the bend.

Wanda Cannon serves as Master Gardener coordinator and horticulture assistant for the Hall County Extension office. Phone: 770-535-8293. Her column appears biweekly and on gainesvilletimes.com/life.