Kelly Jackson
Christian County Extension Office
Fall is for Planting
Arbor Day, the celebration of the value of trees in our lives, is celebrated in spring. However, in Kentucky the VERY BEST time to plant new trees and shrubs is the fall.
Late October until about the first of the year is the best time to plant for several reasons. The drought-breaking rains of fall have added moisture back to soils made hard and droughty by summer heat. The act of digging trees and shrubs for transplanting necessitates cutting roots. New roots must be regenerated if they are to become reestablished in the new location. With cooler temperatures and no foliage, the water demands for plants with limited or damaged root systems is significantly less.
We think of woody plants as growing in spring and early summer and then going dormant in fall and winter. This is true, at least for the above-ground parts we see. Roots grow most vigorously when the soil is above freezing and below 50 to 60°F. For us, this is most of the fall and winter. By planting in the fall, we take advantage of roots being able to regenerate. This allows the plant to efficiently absorb sufficient water in the abundance of new roots when growth begins in spring. These newly transplanted plants can then maintain their water requirements throughout the hot, dry summer.
Fall really is for planting but we need to make sure that the plant will thrive in its new home. Watching plants die that are not adapted to a site is frustrating and a waste of money.
One of the most important and most neglected assessments is determining if the soil will drain properly. Doing a percolation test, perk test for short, is simple and easy and can even be a part of the planting process. Plants that are not adapted to a site are less winter hardy and more prone to disease and insect problems. If you discover that your site is poorly drained, then a flood tolerant species might be a better choice.
Installing a new tree or shrub in its new home can be exciting…. in a good way. It can also be exciting in a bad way. To keep “shocking” surprises from happening, always remember to call 811 a week before you dig. It’s the law! This free service will prevent you from accidently hitting buried utilities and perhaps being injured or being billed for the damage you caused.
Selecting the appropriate trees and shrubs and installing them properly can improve the value of your residence, make a park a nicer place to visit, and make our communities a healthier place to live. It is the green infrastructure (trees and shrubs), more than any other single factor that makes Kentucky’s suburban and urban areas sustainable and livable places.