Fall is in the air the weather is changing. This makes autumn the perfect time to add trees and shrubs to the landscape.

Three Reasons to Plant a Tree Now:

Roots grow best in the fall

Event though the nights bring cooler air, the soil is still warm from the summer season, encouraging newly planted trees to use their energy on new root growth below rather than top growth above. This means, your fall planted trees will have a better root system.

Fall rainstorms help keep the soil moist

The number one reason new trees fail to thrive is because their roots dry out. Planting in the fall means Mother Nature will most likely do the watering for you. Be sure to check the soil, and make sure it stays moist for a few months after you plant a new tree. Sometimes a light rain does not penetrate the soil all the way down to the new roots. In that case, you will still need to hand water your newly planted tree.

Fall plant sales make new trees affordable

Many nurseries, both independent and big box stores want to unload summer plants especially trees in the fall to make room for winter merchandise. You can take advantage of fall clearance sales and invest in a more beautiful landscape, save money on air conditioning with more shade, and help clean the air we breathe all by planting a tree – at a bargain price.

How to begin:

Once you have your tree on the property, give the planting location some serious thought. Trees are hard to move should you plant in the wrong location. Potted trees can be set in place, then stand back and imagine how the tree will look 5 or 10 years from now when it is over 30 feet tall. Will it run into overhead power lines? Block the morning sun from a second story bedroom? Drop leaves into gutters or on roof tops? Trees grow out as well as up. Don’t plant a tree where it will need pruning to keep it in bounds or where branches will grow to block pathways. Read the plant label or look up the type of tree you’ve purchased to confirm the mature size – a little research might inspire you to move the location of your new tree farther away from the house.

The night before….

If you are planting a bare root tree, one without soil around the roots, soak the roots overnight in a bucket of water. If the new tree is in a nursery pot, water thoroughly the night before the transplant operation. This will not only insure a well-hydrated patient but a moist root ball will slip more easily out of the nursery pot.

If you live in an area with dry or sandy soil, dig the hole the night before you want to plant. Then fill the newly dug hole with water and let it soak into the surrounding soil overnight.

How big to dig the hole…

You don’t have to dig down to China. It is more important that the hole is wide, to accommodate the spreading root system than deep. Make the width of the planting hole three times as wide as the root spread of the new tree. The depth of the hole only needs to be an inch deeper than the existing root ball. Tree roots spread outward more than they do downward. Remove any large rocks bigger than your fist, but don’t worry about the smaller rocks.

Now, don’t get rotten…

Adding compost to the bottom of a planting hole can cause problems for newly planted trees. Winter rain will flow into the newly dug soil around the tree and the compost can act as a sponge to hold the water in place all winter – causing root rot. Even improving the existing backfill soil with compost can cause problems because improved soil could discourage the roots from spreading out to seek better soil. Current studies recommend not adding any additives to the soil when planting a new tree in the landscape.

Time to remove the pot…..

If your tree or shrub is in a plastic pot you can use a box cutter or utility knife to slice through the plastic and cut the pot off of the tree roots.

Another way to ease a tree from its nursery pot is to lay the pot with tree still inside on its side. Now use your foot to apply pressure on the plastic pot and loosen up the sides by creating air space. Roll the pot back and forth a bit so you can put pressure on all sides of the container. Now the tree and its soil covered root ball should slide easily from the pot with a gentle tug.

If an overgrown root system just won’t let go use a serrated knife or special root pruning saw to slice all along the inside edge of the container. Now, pull the pot away from the roots or use clippers to cut the plastic pot away from the stubborn root ball. Be careful not to damage the crown of the plant – where the roots join the trunk. Be gentle as you work the tree out of its nursery pot.

Don’t Plant Too Deep!

Newly planted trees need to have their crown set right at ground level, not buried up to their necks with soil. The crown is where the roots join the trunk of the tree. Add some of the soil you removed back to the planting hole if you find that the crown is below soil level.

You can also lay the handle of your shovel across the hole you have dug for the tree. Now set the tree into the hole and check that the crown is even with the shovel handle crossing the hole. Fill in around the roots with the same soil you removed when digging the hole.

Firm the soil, don’t stomp on the soil.

Compressing the soil around the tree with your heavy boots can push out all the air spaces. Use your hands to firm the soil around the tree roots without stomping.

Stake only if you must.

Allowing a young tree to blow about a bit in the wind will encourage more root growth- and staking a tree incorrectly can cause girdling or a slow choking death. If you live in a windy area and you must stake, add the stakes at planting time and remove this support system after the first year. Tip: The legs from nylon stockings make a good tie for securing a newly planted tree to a stake. The nylon will not cut into the bark and has enough stretch to allow the tree trunk to move a bit in the wind.

Don’t get snippy with the top growth.

Old time gardening advice suggested you should shorten up the longest tree branches by one third to encourage root growth – new studies prove this is not necessary as the young tree needs all leaves possible to produce energy. You can snip off any dead or damaged branches at planting time.

Water slowly, and then seal it with mulch.

A slow running hose will help settle the soil around the tree roots and gently soak the surrounding soil.

Topping off the soil with sorganic mulch such as wood chips or bark chips will seal in the moisture and help the soil temperature to stay warmer during the first crucial winter in the ground. A circle of mulch will also keep mower blades away from the young trunk. Just don’t pile the mulch up around the bark like a turtleneck. There should be no mulch actually touching the bark of the tree, but a two-inch layer of mulch on top of the root area will keep down weeds and protect new roots.

Now take a bow.

Our earth needs more trees and planting a tree will benefit future generations. Trees help clean the air, provide shelter for wildlife and shade for homes. Add a tree this fall and make the world more beautiful for a life time.