If you live in an area with a year-round warm climate, any time of the year except mid-summer is a great time to plant trees. Most of us, however, are not so lucky – and surprised to learn that autumn is the best time of the year to plant a new tree.
Rule #1: When NOT to Plant
The summer heat makes it the worst time to plant a new tree. The hot weather makes the plant more susceptible to damage, and the often dry weather means the tree may not get sufficient water. Arborists say that late winter is one of the best times to plant a tree, but frozen ground often restricts planting. A solution to this problem is to plant trees in the fall, just before they go dormant for the winter.
The summer heat makes it the worst time to plant a new tree. The hot weather makes the plant more susceptible to damage, and the often dry weather means the tree may not get sufficient water. Arborists say that late winter is one of the best times to plant a tree, but frozen ground often restricts planting. A solution to this problem is to plant trees in the fall, just before they go dormant for the winter.
What is Dormancy?
During cold winter months, the days get shorter and plants see fewer hours of sunlight – and since they depend on sunlight to produce food, they can’t make enough. The temperature also means that the ground may freeze, which reduces the tree’s access to water. The trees’ solution to survival is to go dormant, which means that they stop growing temporarily until the weather becomes warm enough to sustain them again. Plants start to go dormant in fall, and come out of dormancy in the spring.
During cold winter months, the days get shorter and plants see fewer hours of sunlight – and since they depend on sunlight to produce food, they can’t make enough. The temperature also means that the ground may freeze, which reduces the tree’s access to water. The trees’ solution to survival is to go dormant, which means that they stop growing temporarily until the weather becomes warm enough to sustain them again. Plants start to go dormant in fall, and come out of dormancy in the spring.
Why Plant in the Fall
It’s advisable to plant trees when they’re dormant. This prevents substantial harm to the tree while digging it up from its original home, transporting it, and transplanting it into the ground. Handling a non-dormant tree can damage its growing pattern. This makes winter the ideal time to plant a tree, but frozen ground means that planting in the fall after its leaves have already finished changing colors and begun to fall off is the next best time.
It’s advisable to plant trees when they’re dormant. This prevents substantial harm to the tree while digging it up from its original home, transporting it, and transplanting it into the ground. Handling a non-dormant tree can damage its growing pattern. This makes winter the ideal time to plant a tree, but frozen ground means that planting in the fall after its leaves have already finished changing colors and begun to fall off is the next best time.
It’s important to water trees sufficiently in the fall to prevent the trees from suffering harm due to dryness. Frozen ground often follows the dropping of leaves very closely, and if the tree doesn’t have enough water it won’t set its roots down the way it should to be ready for the spring.
For more information on Redmond arborist and arborist Seattle services, visit Certified Arborist Tree Care online.
I wouldn't have guess that fall would be the best season because winter is right around the corner and the tree can freeze.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips...I always thought spring was the best
ReplyDelete