Fall Planting: Trees, Shrubs and Perennials

Most of us think of spring as the prime time for all planting. We've been cooped up indoors for a couple months and we're itching to get the veggie garden planted and dump some new bushes and trees in the ground. But did you know that Spring isn't actually the best time to plant trees and shrubs? Its actually Fall!

Landscapers and contractors know this little-known trick - I'll share it with you;

Planting shrubs and tree's in early fall allows them to acclimate peacefully into their new environment! Here's why -

In fall, plants are less likely to experience transplant shock, as most are entering their winter dormancy. When they 'wake up' in Springtime they'll have already put new roots into the ground which allows them to grow with vigor throughout the warm months.

When we try to quickly plant these larger items in spring, they only have a couple months before the summer heat hits, a stressful time for a plant trying to navigate new soil. The deeper a tree or shrubs roots extend, the less our dry summers hit them since they can reach further down for water. This is also a good reason to invest in larger tree/shrubs from your local nursery or garden center, especially if you are a beginner gardener- the larger the pot, the bigger the root system, the deeper you plant, the harder it is for the young tree to dry out between waterings.

Another benefit is that it'll require little water during the winter-spring rainy months since the cold and wet weather takes care of the work. You can plant in October, then water regularly until we get some rain in December/Jan, then only water when the soil dries, which may be just a couple times a month till March, by that point the roots will be much deeper and you'll be able to water it weekly or biweekly the same you might do with your annual flowers/veggies!

This rule applies to ornamental trees and shrubs as well as fruiting shrubs, vines and trees. Plan ahead to get a shade tree in for next summer, start a berry patch of blueberry bushes and blackberry vines, or pickup some dwarf fruit trees for your yard - you'll be glad you planned ahead!

If we follow the teachings of Mother Nature, gardening gets easier and easier!

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What are you planting besides veggies this fall?! Comment Below!