Why is fall actually a better time to plant than the spring season?
Fall planting follows the extreme heat of summer and precedes a cooler winter season. It is a time of rejuvenation. Shrubs, trees and most landscape plants planted in the fall use this timing to their advantage. Plant roots grow anytime the soil temperature is about 40 degrees F or slightly higher, and this occurs nearly all winter long in most of the state. Therefore during the winter months, the root systems of the fall-planted specimens thrive and become well-established. When the spring arrives, this well-developed root system makes it possible for the plant to take advantage of the full surge of spring growth. Much of the possible “transplanting shock” associated with spring-planted shrubs and trees can also be minimized by fall planting. So, if you’ve been considering adding a new tree, or a grouping of shrubs to the landscape, or if there is an area in your landscape that needs “restoration” from the drought, the fall months are not only an excellent time, but the best time to d
