Fall is officially here! Days are shorter, nights are cooler and it’s the perfect time of year to spend the evening with friends and family around a bonfire. As you put your mower in the garage for the last time this season and start raking up leaves in the yard, adding new plant material to your landscape is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. But it should be! You may not realize it, but trees and shrubs planted in the fall have an extremely high success rate.
Warm soil temperatures are the number one reason why fall is an ideal time to plant. While you may need a jacket when you step outside, beneath the surface, conditions are prime for new root growth. When the air temperatures are cooler than the soil, new root growth is encouraged without new top growth. The result is a stronger, better developed root system for the next spring when the plant begins to grow.
Fall growing conditions contrast sharply with spring, when soil temperatures are much lower after the winter months. We have to wait for the ground to warm up before installing new plant material. And if summer comes early, the hot and dry conditions create the potential for injury.
Cooler air temperatures in the fall mean less stress on newly transplanted trees and shrubs. The hot, windy days of summer are gone, which makes it easier for plants to acclimate to their new home. Less stress means more energy is transferred to the root system.
Rain is another factor that can delay planting in spring. April showers may bring May flowers, but muddy conditions and unpredictable forecasts can make it difficult, if not impossible at times, to get anything in the ground.
This doesn’t mean spring isn’t a good time to plant. As you’ve probably noticed in your own landscape, trees and shrubs planted early in the year typically do just fine. But planting in the fall can give things the “jump start” they need to make it successfully through the next year.
Landscape Consultants has a large inventory of trees and shrubs for you to choose from, so be sure to come see us! Our expert staff can help you select the perfect plants for your landscape. Don’t want to plant it yourself, or considering an entirely new landscape design? No problem! Our professional designers and landscape crews will exceed your expectations and leave you with a landscape you and your family can enjoy for years to come.
