Fall is a prime planting season for the Bay Area. While our days can stay warm and sunny on into November and December, cooler nights allow root systems to establish without the heat stress of midsummer.
Our region spans diverse microclimates, from the warm, dry Peninsula neighborhoods of Palo Alto and Redwood City to the cool, coastal fog of Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, so it’s important to tailor your plant choices to your exact yard conditions — and we can help you do that.
1. Plant Cool-Season Flowers for Immediate Color
As summer annuals fade, replace them with hardy flowers that thrive through crisp fall mornings and mild Bay Area winters:
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Pansies & Violas: Exceptional cold tolerance; ideal for borders and window boxes.
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Snapdragons: Add vertical height and vibrant color to sunny garden beds.
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Cyclamen: Perfect for shady spots, covered patios, and coastal dampness.
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Calendula & Primrose: Great cool-weather pollinators that bloom continuously with regular deadheading.
Tip: Check how sun angles change across your yard as autumn days get shorter before choosing your planting spots.
2. Start Fall Vegetables and Winter Greens
September and October are ideal for planting cool-weather crops from seed or starter six-packs. Read our whole post on winter gardening in the Bay Area.
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Leafy Greens: Spinach, kale, Swiss chard, and butterhead lettuce.
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Root Vegetables: Carrots, radishes, and beets (sow directly from seed).
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Alliums: Mid-to-late October is the best time to plant garlic cloves and shallot sets for summer harvests.
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Sugar Snap Peas: Get these in the ground early in September so they climb before cold snaps arrive.
3. Establish Native & Drought-Tolerant Perennials
Planting perennials now allows roots to settle during winter rains, setting them up for explosive spring growth. Need ideas for drought tolerant plants? Read more here.
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Peninsula gardens: Look for heat-tolerant California natives like Ceanothus, Salvia and Manzanita.
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Coastal gardens: Choose salt- and wind-tolerant varieties like seaside daisy, ornamental grasses and Heuchera (Coral Bells).
4. Bury Spring-Blooming Bulbs in Late Fall
For a vibrant spring yard, plant your bulbs before the temps drop significantly overnight:
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Popular choices: Daffodils, tulips, ranunculus, and crocuses.
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Rule of thumb: Plant most bulbs pointed-end up, at a depth roughly two to three times the bulb’s height. Tulips benefit from 4 to 6 weeks of chilling in the refrigerator before planting in warmer Peninsula microclimates.
5. Fall Soil Prep & Smart Watering
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Feed the Soil: Amend compacted soil with rich organic compost before setting new root balls. For potted displays, refresh the top three inches with fresh potting mix.
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Apply Mulch: Spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of bark mulch across beds to insulate soil temperatures and retain moisture, keeping it an inch away from plant stems to prevent rot.
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Water by Moisture, Not Schedules: The still-warm days can dry out Peninsula gardens in October, while the marine layers keep coastal soil moist. Always test the top two inches of soil with your finger before turning on your drip irrigation.
Get Expert Local Advice at Your Neighborhood Hassett Hardware
Need help picking the best plants for your microclimate? Visit the full-service garden centers at Hassett Hardware in Redwood City, Half Moon Bay, and Pacifica (Linda Mar Shopping Center).
Bring us your yard’s sun profile and location and our team will help you pick the right seasonal plants, amendments, mulch and drip irrigation supplies for your fall garden.