WHY PLANT TREES IN FALL

 Learn why fall is the best time to plant trees

Why do plant trees fall?

Perhaps most importantly, autumn planting allows a tree a lot of time to establish its root system before winter. The roots begin to grow as soon as they touch the moist earth and continue to grow until the soil temperature is above 40 F (4 ° C). Then, when the first warm breath of spring finally coordinates the growth of new shoots, the autumn-planted tree is in place, with its roots already growing in the soil.

More suitable for digging the soil in the fall than in the spring. In the fall, the heat of summer is enough to keep the soil moist, without dust, and crumbles most of the time - the perfect condition for digging planting holes. In addition, if you are in an area with high snowfall, you do not have to deal with all the frost (or resulting mud) if you plant in the fall.

Buying a tree

When buying trees for your location, you have some different options depending on what type of nursery tree you are getting:

Bare root trees are grown in the field and then dug up in the fall or spring without leaves. Fallen-dug trees can be sold immediately or their roots can be sealed in moist material. Root loss when digging is a defect; However, these trees can be sent easily and cheaply, giving you a wide selection if you can’t go to a local nursery. Since you can see the roots, you can easily assess their condition. Bare root trees are also a cheaper option because they are so lightweight.

Container-grown trees spend the first part of their lives in pots. Potting mix is ​​lighter than field soil, so such plants can be sent economically. Ideally, the plant spends enough time in the container to allow it to fill its roots. Note though: Some sellers buy bare-root trees and sell them quickly as container plants. Tree-grown trees that have been left in their containers for too long are very bad. If possible, slide the container-grown tree out of its pot and see if it is root-bound (i.e., its roots are thick and intricate). Avoid buying the largest tree possible; It should not be three to four times taller than the height of its container.

Ball and burnt trees are often dug out of clay soil, removing them can lead to root loss. Thus, such a tree is lifted by a ball of soil, which is then covered with a burlap. Clay soil is better than lighter soil, but it is heavier, so the weight and taste of the root ball make mail-order shipping of these trees impossible; In most cases, they must be purchased locally. So plant selection is very limited. Weight also makes it difficult to plant these trees yourself without the use of machinery depending on the size of the tree.