‘Tis the Season to Be Planting

I love fall. The trees touched with the Masters paintbrush. The nip in the morning air. The clear skies. The fact that your lawn remains green, but only needs to be mowed every couple of weeks. And, best of all, the bargains at the garden centres. My Dutch blood warms right up to those 50% off of all remaining nursery stock signs. In the fall my van is stripped of its back seats, lined with a big sheet of plastic; ready at all times to haul trees, should I pass by an unexpected sale. I’ve endured stares at stop signs, you know, from the un-gardeners, those who just don’t get why jungle lady would drive with foliage obstructing every inch of window space. And then there are eager fellow gardeners who see, and want, and wave me over to see where the sale is.

It’s not just the bargains that excite me; it’s that last chance to plant before winter. Fall is, in fact, the best time to plant. Plants are becoming dormant this time of year and require less attention. They are not asking to be fertilized, nor are they screaming for water on a daily basis like late spring and summer. They are just happy to be put in a permanent spot where they can nestle in for the winter. Evenings are cooler, rains are usually more frequent and the new plants needs are met primarily by nature.

The best benefit of planting any plant material in the fall is that they spend all of their energy on developing great roots in their new location. They will continue to develop their roots until the ground freezes. When spring arrives, they will have settled in nicely and will spend more of their energy on great foliage and flowers. When we plant in the spring, the plant is dividing its loyalties between developing great roots and showing off its new foliage and flowers.

It is important not to get totally caught up in ‘the bargain’. Although there are many to be had, it is important to check out the stock thoroughly. Deciduous trees should be well branched, and have a straight, solid trunk with no nicks or splits in it. If there is still foliage remaining on the branches, check for any insect or disease issues. Deciduous shrubs should be well branched on all sides. If the top appears a little leggy, feel free to purchase it, but give it a good trim prior to planting. Evergreen trees and shrubs should be well needled all around the plant with no bare patches. Most evergreens cannot be cut back significantly. Trimming off the previous summers growth is fine, but when they are cut back to old growth, they will not re-grow well from the trimmed branch. So purchasing a good-looking specimen is especially important for evergreens.

If you’ve taken advantage of the fall bargains, much of your spring planting will be finished, and next spring you’ll be seen with a golf club in your hand instead of a shovel.