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There is something about spring that sends people to the garden center, full of hope, to buy shrubs and trees. I’m here to convince you that fall is a better time to plant most trees and shrubs.
Yes, we’re all exhausted from summer gardening and are gearing up for fall cleanup, but hear me out: Right now, the ground is soft from a summer of watering, but also still warm. Coming fall rains will water whatever you plant. Unlike in spring, where plants will quickly become stressed by the heat, things you plant in fall have lots of time to establish themselves before next summer. Your trees will go into a dormant state for winter, requiring less care, and will wake up in time for spring, and to cap it all off, tree roots generally grow best in cooler weather, rather than warmer.
Here are the trees and shrubs to get in the ground now, and a few that you’re better off planting next spring.
Plant deciduous trees in the fall
When planting trees in the fall, you want to stick with deciduous varieties.
Consider hardwoods like alder, ash, buckeye and maple (ash is a particularly beautiful tree that is often overlooked). Pines and spruces thrive in fall and adding even a small pine to my yard has meant access to pine boughs at the holiday and spruce tips for making syrup. Hackberry, hawthorn, elm and linden will also do well in a fall planting.
When you’re considering trees to plant, it’s important to talk to a local nursery about what is actually native to your area, and learn about what kinds of threats your local tree population may face. Elms are increasingly at risk from Dutch Elm disease, for instance.
Edible trees and shrubs are also worth planting in fall
Fall is also a good time to consider perennial fruit bearing shrubs and trees. Al Simmons, general manager of One Green World, a national source for fruiting trees and shrubs, notes that figs and berry canes seem to be quite popular this time of year. If you love figs or berries (and understand how expensive and prone to spoilage they are), adding them to your yard makes perfect sense. Be aware that both of these plants require some training each year, lest they can bully other plants in the area.
Fall is likewise a good time to invest in blueberry bushes, and you should endeavor to acquire varities that fruit early, mid- and late in the season. There is an entire world of fruit trees, from stone fruits (plums, peaches and nectarines) to hundreds of varieties of apples and pears, not to mention cherries and mulberries.
As nurseries seek to reduce their stock before the winter, buying in fall will be a lot easier on your wallet than it would be in spring. Before you plunk down cash for just anything on sale, however, you’ll want to work with a local nursery, as there may exist local conditions that will guide your choice of edible plants. For instance, where I live, peach leaf curl runs rampant, so purchasing a curl free peach is imperative.
Wait until spring to plant these trees
While many trees and shrubs do well in the fall. there are exceptions. Trees and shrubs that have fewer, deeper roots may struggle in a fall planting, as opposed to those that have many shallow roots. Rhododendrons and azaleas are poor candidates for fall planting, as are plants like gingko and yews. Among more traditional woods, cypress, hemlock, larch, and sweetgum should only be planted in spring. One of my favorites, the tulip tree should also wait till April.
