Planting now aids tree roots

Though many people might assume that spring and summer are the best times of year to plant, fall and winter are the best time to plant trees, one local nursery owner says.

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"It's the best time to plant trees for a number of reasons," said James Cartledge, the owner of Springwood Nursery on Cox Road in Evans. "Planting has to be done when the tree is semidormant or dormant."

By planting trees now, Cartledge said, the root system will be more established come spring.

"Trees planted in the wintertime will be more successful and vigorous than those planted during the summer when it's a more stressful time for them," he said.

Planting trees this time of year also means less-frequent watering. Cartledge said a basic rule of thumb is 20 gallons of water per week per tree.

"This should be sufficient for this time of year," he said, adding that soil type will also dictate how much water a tree needs.

About the only type of trees that shouldn't be planted this time of year is tropical or semitropical ones that can't withstand the cold weather.

"After the first frost, it's usually fine to go ahead and plant most trees," Cartledge said. "Now through March or April is a good time for planting."

Cartledge said that for those homes without irrigation systems or an easier way to water newly planted trees, a product called the Gator Bag will make it convenient to get water to the tree.

The Gator Bag is a drip irrigation system in a bag. It is designed for trees, and slowly and evenly delivers a high volume of water directly to a tree's roots.

Aside from added shade, trees can increase the beauty of a landscape. For more information on the benefit of trees, visit www.arborday.org.