We have lost many of the shrubs around our home. How late can we replant all of the landscaping around our residence? Is November too late?
If you are planting shrubs and trees, November is actually a good time to replant. Trees and shrubs planted when they are dormant have an easier time establishing good root systems before they begin actively growing again next spring. They will need to be watered at planting time and throughout the season, but not as often as you would have to provide water in spring or summer.
Here are general guidelines from UT/TSU Extension for planting balled-and-burlapped and container-grown trees and shrubs:
-Choose your location and begin by digging a wide hole, two or three times the width, but no deeper than the height of the root ball.
-Handle the trees carefully before you plant. Never pick up or carry a tree by its trunk, especially a balled-and-burlapped tree, due to the weight of the root ball. If they can’t be planted right away, water the trees well and place them in an area away from direct sun.
-Water a plant in a container before you take it out of the pot. After you remove the plant, cut any roots that circle the ball of soil (if the roots and soil don’t come out easily, cut the plastic away from the root ball. Don’t pull the plant out by its trunk). Use a sharp knife to make two or three vertical cuts, and gently loosen the ball to expose more roots to the soil.
-Place the plant in the hole so that the top of the root ball is an inch or two above the soil line. Remove any nails or rope lacing and cut away the burlap, leaving the burlap at the bottom of the root ball. If there is a wire basket, cut as much of it away as you can without disturbing the root ball.
– Backfill the hole with the soil that was removed from the hole, watering when the hole is about half full and again after you finish backfilling. Rake over the soil to even it out with the ground, and cover the area with 2 or 3 inches of mulch (keeping the mulch away from the shrub’s trunk.
-Don’t forget to provide water to newly planted shrubs and trees if the weather is dry.
Filed under: Fall gardening, Seasons, Shrubs, Trees | Tagged: balled-and-burlapped trees, container trees and shrubs, fall planting, landscape planting, planting trees and shrubs | Leave a comment »
