Early fall ideal to plant conifers

There seem to be some questions about planting conifers in the fall, and whether it is good for plant health.

Timing can be an issue when dealing with conifers, so keep the following recommendations in mind. Early fall is a good time to plant, but do it well before the ground starts to freeze.

If you’ve already bought a tree or shrub, planting it now is better than trying to store it above ground over the winter.

The roots are the least hardy part of the plant.

New plants, especially conifers, will need regular water until the soil freezes, which might mean extra effort on your part. Follow these rules and you will have much more success with your new plant.

Early fall is a good time to plant conifers, because the weather is cool, so there is less chance that they will dry out during the process. Additionally, lower temperatures tell the plant not to grow new shoots, which allows the roots to grow and become established.

Since most trees and shrubs come to the nursery with as little as 10 percent of their original root system, this can make a big difference in transplant success. Planting now gives it a jump start on next spring when the tree will need lots of roots to provide water for all the new top growth.

Pick an overcast, cool day to plant. Dig a wide, shallow hole no deeper than the top of the root ball. Use unamended native soil to back fill the hole. Do not fertilize the tree until spring.

Adequate water is crucial for conifers.

Even after the soil freezes, they lose water through their needles. This means they need to be “water-loaded” now to prevent drying out over the winter and causing winter burn. Water during planting and also two to three times per week until the ground freezes.

Trees and shrubs do best with deep watering, so set a hose on the root ball and let it trickle water on for an hour or more until the soil is saturated.