Orange is the new green! (Or, fall is the best time to plant!)

The season is changing, the leaves will be falling soon, and the weather is turning cooler. For many people, this is a time for Pumpkin Spice Lattes, apple cider, a trip to the pumpkin patch, kicking back and watching some football; but to us it is the BEST time for planting!

While it might sound counter-intuitive, the best time to plant a new tree, shrub, or perennial is actually in the fall. When a plant is put into the ground in fall, it may be facing the cold above ground; but in the Midwest, root growth continues until deep soil temperature drops below 40 degrees.

If you plant a shrub in spring, it must acclimate itself to its new home and begin growing immediately. At the same time, it has to produce leaves, flowers, and then endure the rapidly arriving summer heat. Plant the same shrub in fall, and here’s what happens: It becomes happily dormant above ground soon after planting, but the roots have several months to grow and become comfortable and strong in their new home. When spring does arrive, the plant is established and ready to put out strong leaves, new growth, and lots of flowers! So the difference is obvious: Fall planting gives your plant’s roots a wonderful head start over spring planting.

For newly planted and established plants, fall fertilization is incredibly important. If you only fertilize once a year, make it in the fall instead of in the spring!

Unfortunately, spring is still the season you’ll find the greatest selection of shrubs and trees. But most nurseries and garden centers are beginning to recognize the value of fall planting and making special efforts to provide their customers with the best selection possible throughout the fall and early winter season.

When selecting those special plants for your landscape, always look for healthy, well-grown plants. Always buy from a reputable nursery with an experienced staff. These nurseries are in the business of selling service year-round, and in turn, they depend on loyal customers continued confidence in their business.

Plants come in a vast array of shapes, sizes, colors, and most importantly, qualities. It is just as important to evaluate plants individually before purchasing as it is to carefully inspect a new shirt of a television set. Shopping for plants by telephone or looking for the least expensive price can be a costly mistake. That old saying “You get what you pay for,” is often true, and certainly applies to the purchase of new landscape plant materials. Many times you will find that not all nurseries and garden centers are created equal.

A new tree or shrub can be a large physical investment. Why not give your new plant the best possible chance of survival and make care of the plant easier on you? Get outside and take advantage of this fall planting season!

Watering Plants in the Winter

I always used to wonder if I should water plants in the winter. It's freezing, but the plants are still alive, so what should I do? Do I actually go out and water my plants in the winter?

The easy answer is YES, you should water your plants in the winter!

You don't have to water as much as you do during a summer drought or anything, but you definitely don't want your plants to totally dry out. You can water your plants any time the weather is above freezing, preferable above 40 or so. If the weather drops to freezing after you water, that's ok, it won't hurt the plants, but you don't want to water when it's freezing.

A good soaking every two to four weeks should do it. You want to make sure that your water gets down about 6" in the soil each time you water. That's typically about a half an inch to an inch of water. To measure that, place cups or bowls down where you are watering and water until you fill them to that depth. A slow, steady water is always best, no matter what time of year it is.

Obviously, if you are getting a lot of rain or snow, you don't need to worry about watering. Long story short, you are good for this January so far!

It's important to water all of your plants, but it's especially important to water any newly planted trees or shrubs, or any plants that are particularly exposed to wind or sun. Pay attention to any evergreen trees, as they are the most susceptible to winter droughts.

Don't forget after watering to take your hose off of the spigot. You don't want the hose to freeze and burst! If you have an automatic sprinkler system, make sure you aren't using it. You should have that winterized by a professional each October or so.

Have any more questions about winter watering? Just reach out to us, we are happy to help!