Fall is Coming, and It’s the Best Time to Plant Trees

No matter where you are in the United States, fall is the best time to plant trees. When you replant a tree, whether you find it at a nursery or want to move a small tree that is already in your yard, you shock it when you disturb it. Trees usually get over the shock and continue to thrive as long as there are not other factors to contribute to the shock, such as the high heat and humidity during dog days.

Why You Might Want to Add Trees to Your Landscaping

Trees add value to your home, regardless of where you live. Strategically placed trees provide shade in addition to breaking up a boring landscape. You have many types of trees to choose from and adding deciduous and evergreens can add a lot of curb appeal.

Why You Should Plant Trees in the Fall

When you plant trees in the fall, you give their roots time to establish before the next growing season – and before the life-sucking hot weather arrives. Reasons for planting your trees in the fall include:

• Extra root growth to combat the stress of drier months;
• Trees are less stressed by the heat when you move them;
• The trees can handle the next season’s heat and dry periods much better than if you planted them in the spring since the roots have time to establish;
• Pick trees by the fall colors they produce for a stunning fall display; and finally,
• You’ll have less heat to deal with when you plant.

Best Trees for Fall Color

Some of the best trees to plant in the fall for vivacious fall colors include:

• Fraxinus velutina (Arizona ash): This tree features gray green foliage in a rounded canopy and is a great shade producer. It turns bright yellow in the fall and needs full sun. This tree is drought-tolerant once it’s established.
• Pistacia chinensis (Red push pistache): This species has dark green foliage and features an umbrella-shaped canopy that provides a lot of shade. This tree turns orange-red in the fall.
• Lagerstroemia (Crape myrtle): This is a small tree that doesn’t take up a lot of space. Blooms in several colors in the spring and summer. Fall colors include golden, red and orange.
• Fraxinum oxycarpa ‘Raywood’ (Raywood ash): This species has dark green foliage during the spring and summer that turns to rich burgundy in the fall. It’s a large tree that provides a lot of shade during the summer. It prefers full sun and, once established, is drought tolerant.

Since fall hits in the end of September, the beginning of the month is the best time to decide which trees you want. If you’re planting them yourself, you can pick them up from a nursery anytime and plant them on a cool September day. If you live in an area that has warmer temperatures in the beginning of September, then wait until the end of the month or even into the beginning of October to plant your trees.