As the days inevitably get shorter in fall, often the heat breaks and rain is part of the forecast. Fall is often the best time of year to plant trees and shrubs, especially due to the fall rain totals. While 2024 might prove the exception to this general rule, it’s still worth making fall planting part of your annual garden routine.
To start, think carefully about the site selection and species you’d like to grow. If your location is urban, with sidewalks and asphalt adding heat in the summer and limiting root growth, the largest Virginia-native trees — like white oaks (Quercus alba) and black cherry (Prunus serotina) — are not good choices. If you have a larger space to accommodate these magnificent trees, you will see wildlife and shade in your space for decades to come under these big trees.
Starting with the smallest specimen might seem counterintuitive, but planting acorns, maple “helicopters,” redbud pea pods and cherry seeds from our natives means the tree produces roots underground at the right ratio to stem and leaves.
The Virginia Department of Forestry offers bare root “whips” for sale every year, another great way to add native trees and shrubs to your property. If you do have a smaller spot, think about redbuds (Cercis canadensis). Redbuds have beautiful pink flowers in early spring; they tolerate a wide variety of soils and very poor conditions, stay small and live about 30 years. Find more information on tree choices here.
Once you have the site and plant(s) picked, it’s time to think about the soil. Some plants are extremely picky about their growing site, like blueberries that like very acidic soil and river birch (Betula nigra) and buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) that wants it wet! Make sure with a soil test your site meets these needs or the planting may not survive.
When it is time to plant, think about getting the tree or shrub out of the pot and removing all the soil so you can see the roots. Now is the time to correct any girdling roots — roots that have circled around and around in the pot and won’t grow straight out into the soil. Remember, most trees are not tap rooted, so you want a wide hole, not a deep hole.
Plant the trees and shrubs in the soil you have on site, but don’t amend the ground with compost. These long-lived plants need to make it in what you have on site, so save the compost for another garden project.
As you place the plant in the hole, make sure the root crown where the trunk meets the roots is situated right at the soil level. Planting too deep — or too shallow — can hinder the growth of your tree. For more information, check out the guide to planting trees and the 12-step planting plan from The Garden Professors.
Adding trees and shrubs to any garden is a fun way to spend time outside in fall. Start with careful planning to match the site and the plant, then source your plant(s). While it might take longer, planting seeds, even of trees, can make for a great family project as you watch your seedlings emerge in spring and grow over years to come.
Happy Gardening!
Robyn
