The Best Trees to Plant in Autumn
Spring may be the season we associate with planting new plants in our gardens and yards, but some flowers , vegetables and other greens are better suited to starting in the fall. This also applies to some types of trees. Here are a few trees that are best to plant in the fall and why they benefit from taking root this season.
Why some trees benefit from autumn planting
In short, it’s all (or mostly) about the roots. According to the University of New Hampshire , fall is a great time to plant trees with shallow, fibrous roots because they recover faster than trees with large, thick taproots. This is because the root system has time to develop before warmer summer weather stimulates above-ground growth of the tree.
Here are some other benefits of planting trees in the fall, according to arborists from SavATree and the University of New Hampshire Extension :
- Wetter fall weather means you won’t have to water your tree as often.
- Cooler fall weather also reduces the amount of water your tree needs because its leaves lose less water through transpiration than in warmer weather.
- The soil remains warm long after the weather cools, and roots continue to develop until soil temperatures drop below 40℉.
The best trees to plant in autumn
Trees that benefit from fall planting include :
- Apple
- Apple
- Linden
- Maple
- Hawthorn
- Honey Locust
- Elm
- Buckeye
- horse chestnut
- Alder
- Catalpa
- Hackberry
- Ash
- Amur cork tree
- Spruce
- Pine
- Sycamore
- Kentucky coffee tree
- Willow
- Peach
- American persimmon
- Japanese maple Bloodgood
- river birch
- Beech
- Eastern redbud
Once your trees are planted, water them at least once a week until temperatures drop below freezing, making sure to moisten the soil to a depth of eight to 10 inches.