Fall Planting

Fall is a great time to plant trees, shrubs and perennials. Even though plants may not look their best and you'll be waiting until next year to see blooms, giving them time to establish over winter can give them a great head start come spring.You can also find some great deals at this time of year

Fall planting is much the same as planting at any time of the year. Make sure to dig the hole wide rather than deep and keep the soil's surface at the same level in the ground as it is in the pot it comes in. If the hole is dug too deep, the plant itself can settle and sink over winter, ending up quite a bit lower in the ground after a few months of winter rain.

Place the plants in it's new home and rotate it to find it's best angle. Step back and look at it from a few vantage points to make sure you have the right spot. After teasing it out of it's pot, don't be surprised if your plant is root bound, it has been growing in a pot for the whole season. If you can, gently tease apart the roots, however sometimes it is necessary to take a pair of pruners to the root ball to cut any dense encircling roots. Because plants aren't growing as actively, we don't have to worry as much about disturbing the roots; less growth means less water uptake. Place your plant on a firm and level base, fill back in with soil and water well.

With our mild winters, most commonly grown plants won't suffer too much from the cold. However, once the deciduous trees have dropped their leaves, a good leaf mulch can keep your plants nice and snug over winter. Going over the leaves with a lawn mower is a great way to make sure that your mulch doesn't become an obstacle for young shoots in spring. If you use a heavier mulch, clear it from the crowns of perennials once the coldest weather has passed.

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