Autumn Is the Best Time to Plant These Trees and Shrubs
There’s something about spring that makes hopeful people head to the garden center to pick up shrubs and trees. I’m here to convince you that fall is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs.
Yes, we’re all tired from summer gardening and getting ready for fall cleaning , but hear me out: Right now the soil is soft from summer watering, but still warm. The approaching autumn rains will water everything you plant. Unlike in the spring, when plants are quickly stressed by the heat, things you plant in the fall have plenty of time to get established before next summer. Your trees will go into a dormant state over the winter, requiring less maintenance, and awaken in the spring, and to top it all off, tree roots generally grow better in cooler weather rather than warmer weather.
Here are the trees and shrubs that need to be in the ground now, and some that are best to plant next spring.
Plant deciduous trees in the fall.
When planting trees in the fall, you should stick to deciduous varieties.
Consider hardwoods such as alder , ash , horse chestnut , and maple (ash is a particularly beautiful tree that is often overlooked). Pine and spruce trees bloom in the fall, and adding even a small pine tree to my yard meant access to pine boughs for the holidays and spruce tips for making syrup. Hackberry , hawthorn , elm and linden also do well when planted in the fall.
When you’re considering planting trees, it’s important to talk to a local nursery about what trees are actually native to your area and learn what threats your local tree population may face. For example, elms are increasingly at risk of Dutch elm disease .
Edible trees and shrubs should also be planted in the fall.
Fall is also a good time to view perennial fruiting shrubs and trees. Al Simmons, CEO of One Green World , a national supplier of fruiting trees and shrubs, notes that figs and berry canes seem to be quite popular this time of year. If you love figs or berries (and understand how expensive and susceptible they are to spoilage), then adding them to your yard makes sense. Keep in mind that both of these plants require some training each year to prevent them from intimidating other plants in the area.
Fall is also a good time to invest in blueberry bushes, and you should try to purchase varieties that fruit early, mid, and late in the season. There is a whole world of fruit trees, from stone fruits ( plums , peaches and nectarines ) to hundreds of varieties of apples and pears , not to mention cherries and mulberries.
As nurseries look to reduce their inventory before winter, purchasing in the fall will be much easier on your wallet than in the spring. However, before spending money on anything on sale, you’ll want to work with a local nursery, as there may be local conditions that will dictate your choice of edible plants. For example, where I live, peach leaf curling is common, so purchasing peach leaves without curling is a must.
Wait until spring to plant these trees.
Although many trees and shrubs do well in the fall. there are exceptions. Trees and shrubs that have fewer and deeper roots may have more difficulty planting in the fall than those that have many shallow roots. Rhododendrons and azaleas are poor candidates for fall planting, as are plants such as ginkgo and yew. Among the more traditional tree species, cypress, hemlock, larch and gum should only be planted in the spring. One of my favorites, the tulip tree, is also worth waiting until April.