Planning Your Fall Planting Season: What to Order Now Before It’s Gone

The Time to Act Is Now

August may still feel like the tail end of summer, but for commercial landscapers and buyers, it’s a critical month for planning fall projects. From municipal plantings to large residential developments, fall is one of the best seasons for establishing trees, shrubs, and evergreens. That means now is the time to lock in your plant material while availability is high and demand hasn’t wiped out the premium selections.

At Woody’s Plant Nursery, we’re helping our partners get ahead by highlighting what to order now for success in September, October, and beyond.

Why Fall Is Ideal for Planting

Cooler temperatures and increased rainfall in the fall create an environment where plants can focus on root establishment rather than fighting heat stress. For professionals, this translates into:

• Stronger root development before the next growing season
• Reduced irrigation needs
• Lower transplant shock
• Improved project timelines for spring unveilings

That’s why fall is often favored for larger, mature specimens especially the kind we specialize in at Woody’s.

What’s in High Demand for Fall 2025

Trends shift, but some essentials remain constant. Based on our current orders and past fall seasons, here are the top categories we’re expecting to move fast this year:

1. Mature Shade Trees

Municipal projects, campuses, and residential developers are requesting large caliper trees for instant canopy and curb appeal.
Hot picks for fall:

• Acer rubrum (Red Maple)
• Quercus rubra (Northern Red Oak)
• Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis (Thornless Honeylocust)

Did you know? Trees planted in fall tend to grow up to 25% more roots in their first season than spring plantings.

2. Ornamental Trees & Specimens

These are the stars of the fall landscape bringing color, structure, and interest.
Popular requests:

• Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud)
• Amelanchier (Serviceberry)
• Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)

3. Evergreens for Privacy and Structure

Fall is a key season for screening projects and large scale evergreen installs, especially as clients want winter interest.
Our top sellers:

• Thuja occidentalis (Arborvitae)
• Picea abies (Norway Spruce)
• Ilex opaca (American Holly)

Planning Inventory: Tips for Commercial Buyers
To help you plan efficiently and avoid shortages, here are a few proven strategies:

✅ Forecast Your Project Needs Early
Whether you’re bidding for Q4 work or spring 2026 installs, secure your material now. Many buyers are already reserving through September and October.

✅ Use Holding Agreements
At Woody’s, we offer short-term holding agreements for large orders. This gives you flexibility while ensuring your plant material is ready when you are.

✅ Prioritize Premium Sizes
Don’t wait on 3.5″+ caliper trees or 6-8′ evergreens—those go fast, and our field inventory has limited supply once fall kicks off.

Fall 2025 Outlook: What to Expect
Based on current trends in Illinois and surrounding states, we anticipate:

• Increased demand for native species due to sustainability standards in commercial development.
• Larger orders from municipalities responding to urban canopy initiatives.
• Ongoing interest in low-maintenance species due to labor and irrigation constraints.

We recommend securing these species now to avoid substitutions later:

How Woody’s Helps You Plan Ahead

We’re more than a supplier—we’re a growing partner. Here’s how we support your planning this season:

• Real-time inventory updates – Available on request
• Dedicated account reps – Who understand your region and project specs
• High-survivability stock – Grown for Midwest conditions
• Flexible delivery options – To fit your install schedule

Pro Tip: Request a walk-through of our container and field-grown selections. Many customers find unexpected gems they can spec immediately.