If you're looking to add new trees and shrubs to your garden, the time to do it is right now. For most trees and shrubs, autumn is an even better time to acclimate plants to their new homes and many garden centers offer great discounts so they can sell their stock and make room for a new season.

As temperatures cool and summer heat fades, newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials can focus their energy on establishing roots instead of dealing with the stress of hot weather. The result is a stronger root system going into winter and a plant that is ready to take off when spring arrives.

Deciduous trees and shrubs are the best choices for autumn planting. Spring and summer plantings are particularly stressful on these trees and it requires a lot of water to support all that new growth. In autumn, the top of the plant becomes bare, but roots continue to grow.

October through December is also the best time to plant spring bulbs like daffodils, hyacinth, tulips, crocus, allium, and snow drops (just to name a few). Just like deciduous trees, these bulbs aren't concerned with growing new leaves and take this time to build a great root system.

If you visit garden centers in spring, you'll usually find the plants that look best early in the season. Many of those plants are looking tired now, but there's so many plants to choose from that will make sure your garden is beautiful well into October.

Reblooming evergreen azaleas bloom beautifully in spring with the rest of the azaleas you love, but then the flowers return in September and last all the way up to frost. Some rose cultivars also put out their best blooms in late spring and in autumn.

For something a little different, autumn-blooming camellias can add flowers at a time when much of the garden is winding down. These plants are tender in cooler parts of our area, but are a great choice for a shady & warm part of your garden.

You can also look beyond the usual evergreens for fall and winter color. Not all of those evergreens are green. and instead come in shades of reds, pinks, white, and yellow! Plants such as Aucuba, colorful conifers and variegated evergreens can add foliage interest when deciduous plants lose their leaves.

A note on evergreens: Some can suffer winter burn, salt damage or wind exposure, while others may simply outgrow the space. Choosing the right evergreen for your specific location is just as important as choosing one that looks good.

Hicks Nurseries in Westbury, NY is a great place to shop for fall planting. The Long Island garden center carries a wide selection of trees, shrubs, hydrangeas, azaleas, evergreens and other plants suited to the region. Hicks specifically highlights fall as a prime planting season, with trees, shrubs, perennials and ornamental grasses among the plants available this time of year.