The Benefits Of Fall Planting

Planting trees and shrubs is a great way to bring color and texture into your landscapes. It also adds curb appeal and increases the value of your homes. When it comes to planting, it’s important to keep in mind what times of the year are the best times to plant new plantings.

Apart from spring, the fall season is one of the best times of the year to plant new plant material, especially young trees. A number of factors contribute to the benefits of fall planting:

1. Soil Temperature: In transitioning from summer to fall, the soil is warm and is still in a favored condition for growing young tree roots versus the cool soil temperature in the spring. This warmer soil helps make root growth easier for plants than the cooler soil in the spring. In addition, the majority of the root growth of a plant happens in late summer to fall; therefore, the warm soil helps plants establish better to their new growing conditions.
2. Air Temperature and Water Requirements: Fall’s temperate weather and increased rainfall benefits young trees by helping them adapt faster to new growing conditions than in the spring. Our area can experience less rainfall in the fall than in the spring, but this is a good thing! As we get closer to the winter months, plants will require less water due to going dormant. They move water and nutrients down to their root zone to further concentrate on root development going into winter. Nevertheless, water applications are weather dependant, and new plantings may occasionally need to be hand watered at times if there’s not enough precipitation throughout the winter months.
3. Insects and Diseases: As air temperatures decrease throughout the fall, insects and diseases that target and feed on plant material will become less active. This is due to colder temperatures that are less favored for movement and development than in warmer temperatures. Also, some insects and diseases are nearing the end of their life cycle while others are preparing to overwinter; therefore, young trees planted in the cool fall weather are less likely to be attacked by insects and diseases before winter hits.

By planting in the fall, young trees and shrubs are able to create a more adapted root system before the chilly conditions of the winter months hit. Further adapted root systems will allow the plants to create more of an abundant amount of flowers the next spring, and helps them further endure the humidity, wind, and heat of the next summer. If you are interested in planting a new tree or landscape to further enhance the curb appeal and outdoor living spaces of your home, give us a call at 785.289.5892 and our team can help you get a quick start to the upcoming growing season!