At Homestead Gardens, Fall Is For Planting

Posted Friday, September 4, 2026 1:26 pm

By Zach Sparks

With the arrival of fall coming on September 22, Marylanders are excited for the return of vibrant foliage, cider, hayrides and everything special to the season.

Fall is also an exciting time of year at Homestead Gardens in Severna Park and Davidsonville, and for good reason: fall planning sets the stage for gardening year-round.

“Every season, we really encourage our customers to come in the fall,” said Aimee Miskimon, general manager of the Severna Park store. “They can see the product in its prime and get it into the ground when the soil is really warm, well-nourished from the summer and spring season, and before the plants go dormant. While the plants are dormant, they are building their root structure and their systems.”

Fall is a time to nourish plants ahead of their long winter’s nap.

“Fertilizing, you do in the fall,” said Homestead Gardens team member Amy Spurlin. “You want to get it built up over the winter while the magic is happening under the ground, and get it prepped for the spring.”

With that in mind, Homestead Gardens has a full slate of fall activities, hands-on workshops, educational speakers and unique products designed to help people make the most of the season.

PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Garden Coaching

Want to map out a blueprint of your garden space? Use the Homestead Gardens website to schedule a 30-minute or one-hour appointment with a garden coach as part of this new program that launched in September.

“We have a list of questions that we ask you to prepare prior to coming in,” Miskimon said. “What kind of sunlight is this area going to get? How big is the space? How much do you want to maintain? Do you want something self-maintaining?

“And then our garden coach will spend time with you selecting and designing an area for you to go ahead and plant. It will be hand-sketched with inventory that we have in stock, and that will be kicked off with our ‘Fall Is For Planting’ series this year.”

Houseplant Rx

An annual program that returns in September, Houseplant Rx is meant for customers who want to bring their houseplants inside after summer.

“Things like their citrus trees,” Miskimon cited as one example. “How can they treat their plants for pests and disease and transition them to coming back inside? We spend a lot of time in the month of September growing the program inside our greenhouse, Houseplant Rx, focusing on how customers can have thriving plants inside their home all 12 months of the year.”

Garden Chores and Coffee

Chores often get a bad rap, but Homestead Gardens is making them fun through this year-round program. Participants grab a Rise Up Coffee Roasters beverage and discuss seasonally relevant information about their gardens with a small group of attendees and coaches. The Severna Park store offers the free program on Wednesdays, though registration is required.

“All summer, we have been working with customers on things like watering, pruning, bloom boosting and making sure their plants are thriving,” Miskimon said. “We will go into fall chores, everything from lawn and garden to bringing your houseplants in.”

ITEMS IN STOCK

Fall at Homestead Gardens would not feel right without the numerous unique items that fill and surround the store. Inside, customers will find Halloween planters and gift ideas, along with curated collections of clothing and jewelry that were carefully selected based on the feedback of Homestead Gardens customers.

The Homestead Pantry offers gourmet food and specialty treats with unique flavors. Find Maryland honeys, apple products and other items sourced locally.

“After summer, the pantry transitions from jams and jellies to fall: teas and honeys and pumpkin butters,” Miskimon said.

By mid-September, the store will be stocked with fresh pumpkins and a bestseller, pottery pumpkins.

“Unlike a lot of other pumpkin sellers, we do designer pumpkins in addition to your traditional pumpkins,” Miskimon said. “So you’ll be able to find everything from your blue pumpkins, your white pumpkins, your black pumpkins, all different shapes and sizes to make your fall porch-scape come alive. We do cornstalks and haybales, and that’s a really fun way of transitioning your spring and summer porch to a fall look.”

And, of course, shoppers will find mums, fall annuals, veggies and greens in stock.

From plants to décor to clothing and more, Homestead Gardens has it all. As fall gets underway, the team wants to remind area residents that their space is not just a store but also a hub for learning and growth.

“Fall is an extremely busy time of year for us,” Miskimon said. “It really is about setting the foundation for having a successful growing season, spring and summer, and getting your fall garden done now. The benefit of having cooler days and hopefully less humidity and your soil being warm, it’s such a great environment for the roots to grow and get ready so that you have a beautiful garden in the spring and summer.”

Find Homestead Gardens at 522 Ritchie Highway in Severna Park and at 743 West Central Avenue in Davidsonville. For more information, call the Severna Park location at 410-384-7966 or the Davidsonville store at 410-798-5000. Homestead Gardens also shares tips, deals and event information on social media and at www.homesteadgardens.com.