Dig Into Fall: A Maryland Gardener’s Autumnal Planting Plan

September 25, 2025 Rebecca Brown and Norman Cohen

Fall is the time to add native grasses such as switch grass, little bluestem and other varieties. (Shutterstock)

As early as July, gardeners’ mailboxes start filling with fall bulb and perennial catalogs—brimming with vibrant visions of tulips, daffodils, lilies, and lesser-known beauties like muscari, scilla, and crocus.

While July might seem premature for fall planning, these glossy pages are a gentle nudge: now is the perfect time to start dreaming and scheming for your autumn garden. Here are some tips to help you get started.

Tulips: Beautiful, but Beware the Critters

Tulip varieties seem endless — early to late bloomers, tall and short, in every imaginable color and shape.

But if you garden in Maryland, you know the heartbreak when squirrels and chipmunks feast on your bulbs, and deer munch your flowers before you get to enjoy them.

The solution? Plant your tulip bulbs in a makeshift chicken wire basket—tight enough to deter digging paws, and perfect for keeping containers out of deer’s reach.

Another option? Species tulips, aka botanical tulips. These are delicate, critter-resistant, non-invasive, and ideal for naturalizing into a garden that feels more landscape than flower bed.

Daffodils: The Reliable Charmers

Fall bulb catalogs overflow with daffodil varieties (technically called Narcissi), offering endless combinations of white and yellow petals with ruffled trumpets. Unlike tulips, daffodils are animal-resistant, perennial, and naturalize beautifully. Plant them once and enjoy their bright blooms from March through early May, year after year.

Going Native: A Perennial Mission

As we’ve often discussed here, native plants are a great way to go. Consider expanding your garden’s native plant collection and reimagining existing beds.

While catalogs have plenty to offer, local nurseries are even better for sourcing high-quality native ferns, grasses, and perennials.

Autumn is ideal for digging up overgrown areas, dividing plants, and settling new purchases into the soil. Before spending a dollar or lifting a shovel, map out a plan considering your budget, plant selections and quantities, design and bed preparation.

Adding native grasses are also well worth the effort. Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum) are easy to plant. Just dig, divide, amend the original soil with compost, and replant immediately. Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), another native grass known for its compact form and bluish-purple fall color are another terrific choice. These will each get a 1.5 square meter space, with holes pre-dug to minimize transplant shock. Both grasses should be watered consistently until the first frost to establish strong roots.

Woodland Wonders: Native Ferns

To give shaded garden beds a lush, woodland feel, try adding native ferns commonly found in Maryland’s Piedmont region. These ferns are easy to transplant, thrive in part to full shade, are deer-resistant and readily available at local nurseries.

Recommended varieties include Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea), Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis), New York Fern (Thelypteris novaboracensis) and Evergreen Wood Fern (Dryopteris marginalis).

Fall in Maryland is more than just leaf-peeping season—it’s planting season. Whether you’re tucking bulbs into containers, relocating grasses, or adding texture with native ferns, now is the time to dig in and give your garden a head start for spring.

Rebecca Brown began her career as a horticulturist more than 30 years ago and studied at the New York Botanical Gardens. She has been a University of Maryland, Baltimore County master gardener for 11 years and is a backyard beekeeper.

Norman Cohen is a retired chemist. He has been gardening for more than 40 years and has been a University of Maryland, Baltimore County master gardener for 17 years. Cohen also provides gardening education to the public at local farmers markets.