Why Fall is the Best Time to Plant Trees

Usually, when you think about planting anything, you think about spring, but fall is an excellent time for planting trees or shrubs in your landscape. We plant most things in the spring, thinking that will give them the most time to grow before the cold of winter hits and makes them go dormant—but fall is an equally perfect time to plant!

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Planting in spring indeed gives a long growing season, but there’s something else to consider. Trees planted in spring divide their energy between producing leaves, flowers, fruit, and roots. Trees planted in the fall don’t have to worry about producing leaves and fruit. Fall is when trees focus on growing roots and storing energy for the next season. That’s why fall is a great time to plant trees or shrubs in your landscape.

Fall weather is also helpful for root establishment because the days don’t get too hot anymore, but the soil is plenty warm from soaking up the sun all summer long. The air temperatures are generally more relaxed, so plants aren’t experiencing heat stress. Most trees prefer and grow better during moderate weather than in the heat of summer or the deep cold of winter. The cool air tells the tree that winter is coming, which translates into root growth to help it survive the winter and give it a strong base to withstand any storms. 

why fall is the best time to plant trees Mother Nature

Watering New Trees in Fall

It is still important to water your newly planted fall trees. Water slowly and deeply, preferably two times a week until the first hard frost.

If it rains a decent amount regularly, you probably won’t need to water. If you have a dry week, though, get out the hose and run a slow trickle of water over the root zone of your new tree for 20-30 minutes once or twice a week. Make sure to move the hose to a new spot every 5-10 minutes to make sure you get water to all areas of the root zone.

It’s essential to give your newly planted trees and shrubs a big deep soak before the frost comes. When you’re sure frost will hit, do a long soak during the day before the frost, still moving the hose to a new spot every 10 minutes or so. Once we’ve had a hard frost, you can stop watering until the spring.

why fall is the best time to plant trees Mother Nature

Mulching Trees

Your new tree or shrub should get a blanket of mulch over the root zone. Mulch helps to insulate and protect your tree’s root system from the extreme temperature swings that can damage plants in the winter. Mulch also helps to retain soil moisture, so a decent layer can reduce your watering frequency and reduce the likelihood that your tree will experience water stress on hot summer days. 

Apply a layer of mulch 3-4 inches deep over the root zone, extending about a metre out from the tree. You can have mulch quite close to the tree trunk, but never pile it up around the trunk of the tree. Mulch up against the tree’s trunk creates a perfect environment for bacteria and pests to infect or infest your tree. 

If you’d like to add some new trees or shrubs to your landscape, head over to the tree section at Mother Nature Garden Centre. We can help you find the perfect tree for your yard and give you tips to ensure planting success!