As summer days give way to autumn, high heat and humidity subside. Days get shorter, evenings get cooler, and precipitation increases. And while our minds may not be on landscaping, autumn is the ideal time to plant new trees, shrubs and plants.
Click Here for 20% Off* in September with our Tree & Shrub Planting Special
Roots Rule
The health of any plant hinges on that plants root system. In the spring when the ground thaws, plants wake up from their winter hibernation. Their roots are stimulated and begin to grow. During hot and dry summer months, roots do very little growing. Their focus is simply to stay alive and soak up every bit of water they can find. During the fall months of September through November, however, roots are re-energized and grow once again.
When planting is done in the fall, cooler temperatures and rainfall help new plants establish a healthy root system. Once the roots take hold and become acclimated to the soil, the plant is ready to fall asleep when the weather turns cold.
How Do Trees, Shrubs and Perennials Stay Alive in Winter?
While annuals have a one or two season limited life span, trees, shrubs and perennials become dormant during the winter. They enter a state similar to hibernation in animals. Their ‘metabolism’ slows down, greatly diminishing the need to eat and drink. Deciduous trees and most perennials loose their leaves as they are no longer needed to provide sunlight for photosynthesis. This dormancy allows them to withstand hard freezes, snow and ice.
Why Fall is Better than Spring for Planting Certain Trees and Shrubs
Spring is a good time to plant many flowering perennials, however trees and shrubs tend to do better when planted in the fall. In the spring, weather can quickly go from warm to hot. Longer days and increasing temperatures bring dryness to the soil, and will require more frequent watering. Heat and a lack of adequate water makes it more difficult for roots to become established. If the planting of trees and shrubs is done in the spring, it is best done in the very early part of spring, after the threat of freezing is complete. In Maryland, that is generally in mid-May.
Looking to Do Planting this Fall?
Give your new trees and shrubs the best head start possible and do some planting this fall. Contact the pros at Chesapeake Landscape Group. We will consult with you on the right plants for your landscape, and do the proper installation. During September 2017, Chesapeake Landscape Group is offering 20% off the purchase price of fall plants when you have them installed by us. Click here to view our September planting special.
