Always Be Growing

Fall is the Time to Plant Trees

Take advantage of nature to jump-start healthy growth

By Ann Foster Thelen

As Iowa’s landscapes turn to warm jewel-toned colors amid fall’s crisp air, it’s easy to think the growing season is over. However, now is the perfect time to plant trees. The experts at Earl May Nursery & Garden Center share why autumn is ideal for branching out with new landscape anchors.

“Fall is a wonderful time to plant trees,” explains Ryan Case, store manager of the company’s Ankeny location. “Soil temperatures are still warm from the summer, yet it’s a bit cooler, so things won’t dry out as quickly. It’s like planting in the warmth of the summer without stressing the plant with jumping right into consecutive days – or even weeks – of hot, dry conditions.”

With soil temperatures staying warm longer than air temperatures, new vegetation can establish some of its root structure before winter arrives.

Having a tree in the ground, rooted and growing at its natural pace, is healthier for the plant. With this approach, a tree will have at least six to seven months to establish before the stress of weather could take an early toll.

“Although trees will go dormant and stop growing during the winter, air temperatures are cooler than the ground where roots can still be hard at work,” Case says. “When Iowa’s daytime temperatures are in the 50s and 40s and nighttime temperatures are in the 30s, the ground doesn’t freeze immediately. Trees and shrubs will frequently continue to grow through mid-November,” Case says.

To make the most of the fall growing season, he offers these additional tips:

Plant it Right. Planting a tree at the proper depth and in a place with good soil drainage is essential. Because Iowa’s urban neighborhoods often have a high percentage of clay in the soil, amending the ground (with a product like Earl May’s Structure) can break apart the clay and help with good drainage.

Give Trees a “Good Drink” Before Winter. Evergreens, especially, need to be wellsaturated going into the colder months. Evergreens hold onto their needles throughout the winter and can become “burned” (dry, brittle and damaged) without adequate moisture.

Add More Mulch. Acting as a layer of insulation, mulch can protect plants from frost heave and extreme temperatures. It also helps evergreens conserve soil moisture and avoid severe winter burn. Mulch plants at a two- to three-inch depth.