Planting Those New Trees

Late summer and fall are great times of year to plant trees and shrubs. The cooler air temperatures and warm soils combine to create the perfect combination for strong root growth. In the North, deciduous trees and shrubs can be planted now because their leaves will be dropping soon and won't demand water and nutrients from the roots. The roots can spend more time growing. Evergreen trees and shrubs in cold climates may suffer if planted too late in the fall because they continue to transpire water during the winter and the roots need to be able to supply the needles with moisture. Trees that are brown in spring are mostly because the needles dried out during the winter. It's best to plant them in late summer or spring. In warm winter areas both deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs are fine to plant. The mild winter allows these plants to get firmly established before the heat of next summer. 

The key for any tree and shrub is proper watering. Even if the leaves have dropped, the soil needs to remain moist so roots can growth. Dig the hole 3 times as wide as the container and plant your trees and shrub at the same depth as it was in the container. Water it well. Staking normally isn't needed unless the tree or shrub is tall and gangly and there's potential the main trunk will snap in heavy winds. Generally it's better for the tree to gently rock back and forth to help the roots grab hold. Also, don't worry about fertilizing until next spring. However, mulch your tree and shrub with a 2- to 4-inch thick layer of bark mulch. This will help insulate roots during any unusual cold snaps.

-Charlie, Lawn & Garden