Fall is a good season to plant trees or shrubs in the landscape

Fall is here. The weather has been cooler and very wet. Gardeners will slowly be migrating back outdoors after the heat this summer. Now is a perfect time to plan the addition of a new tree or a grouping of shrubs to the landscape. Or perhaps you have an area in the landscape that needs remodeling or rejuvenating. The fall may be the best season to plant, surpassing even the spring.

Many people prefer January through March for planting, but the fall months of September through December have distinct advantages. Fall planting follows the heat of summer, before a cool winter season, and trees and shrubs planted in the fall use this to good advantage. Plant roots grow any time the soil temperature is 40 degrees or higher, which may occur all winter in Texas. During the winter months, the roots systems of the fall-planted specimens develop and become established. When spring arrives, this expanded root system can support and take advantage of the full surge of spring growth.

Fall is the optimum time to plant balled and burlapped trees and shrubs. Balled and burlapped plants have ample time to recover from transplanting and proliferate roots before spring growth begins. Remember, however, all bare-root plants, including roses and pecan and fruit trees, should be planted in late winter when they are completely dormant. When buying plants for your landscape, be sure to get healthy, well-grown plants. Always buy from a reputable dealer. Those in the plant-selling business year round depend on repeat customers, and can only assure their future business if they sell customers quality plants. Beware of plant bargains. They can easily turn out to be real headaches. A bargain is no good if it dies. The price tag, especially the cheapest one, is not the best guide to quality.

All plants have growing requirements. Think about the plant’s needs before you invest. Is it adapted to your area’s soil? Will it grow in sun or shade? Does it need a wet or dry location? Is it cold hardy? Some nurseries have this type of information on tags beside the plant. If not, ask a nursery professional or the county Extension agent.

"Plan before you plant" is always a good rule of thumb. Whether you are planting a single plant or an entire landscape, plan first, then plant. Good planning is a worthwhile investment of time that will pay off in greater enjoyment of attractive and useful home grounds, and in increasing the value of your home. It’s much easier to move plants on paper than to dig them after planting in the wrong place. A plan saves many planting mistakes.

Every plant in the landscape should serve a purpose. Ask yourself if you want a plant for screening, for privacy or for shade. How large will it be five years from now? Plants, like people, grow up. Remember, that a small 1-gallon size plant will look entirely different after a few years of growth in your landscape.

For more information, contact Clint Perkins with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office in Smith County, 1517 W. Front St., Suite 116, Tyler, 75702; or call 903-590-2980