Planting shrubs, trees in fall gives them a better chance in hot weather

Fall and winter are the best times to plant shrubs and trees.

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Fall is still a couple of weeks away, but many plant sales will take place in the next few weeks. You can get good deals on plants at this time of year.

In the South, our winters are pretty mild compared to other areas of the country. Our soils rarely get cold enough for roots to stop growing during the winter. Our soil temperatures will get into the mid- to high 40s, and at these temperatures, roots will continue to grow.

So, if you plant in the fall and winter, you can have an established root system before the heat of the summer hits. Plants that are planted in the fall and winter will need less water during the summer, because their established root systems can better use the soil moisture.

The second reason that fall and winter planting is best is that the plants use less water. The cooler temperatures cause the top of the plant to go dormant or slow down growth to the point that less water is required. Because the plant growth has slowed down or stopped, the plant is not transpiring; therefore, there is very little water loss from the leaves.

To ensure plants have the best start possible, properly prepare the soil for planting. The first step is to have the soil analyzed to see if lime is needed. The soil sample will tell what nutrients are available for the plant.

Once you have a soil sample, prepare the soil for planting. One of the biggest mistakes that I see is someone buying a $20 plant and planting it in a $1 hole. The best investment when planting is preparing the soil properly. The best way to prepare the soil is to till the area that you are going to plant. The area needs to be tilled 8 to 12 inches deep. I know that is hard to do in our clay soils, but deep tilling will help a plant deal with moisture extremes.

A trick that I use around my house is to cover the area that I intend to plant with a layer of mulch 3 to 5 inches deep. I then water the mulch and leave it on the area for two to three months. This will loosen the soil and make it easier to work. When I have tilled the soil, I will add soil conditioner or fine ground pine bark to the bed area to help loosen the soil and improve drainage.

If you are unable to till the whole bed, or you are planting one or two plants, dig the hole three to four times larger than the root ball of the plant. Use the native soil to fill in around the plant. If you add organic matter to the plant hole, you will create an environment that is different from the surrounding soil. This can lead to the plant roots staying in the area with the better soil instead of spreading out.

When planting the shrub or tree, plant at the depth that the plant was growing in the container, or slightly higher. One of the major causes of plant death is planting too deep. This will cause the roots of the plant to suffocate. Also, if you are planting ball-and-burlapped plants, make sure to cut the wire or cord that is tied around the trunk that holds the burlap in place. I have seen numerous trees that have died due to this cord or wire left around the trunk, with the cord girdling and killing the tree.

When planting plants that are root-bound, make four to six small slits with a knife so you can spread the root system out. Don't add any fertilizer in the hole. Add fertilizer in the spring when the plant starts to grow.

Add 3 to 4 inches of mulch around the plants to help conserve moisture in the soil and keep the soil warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. It's best to use organic mulches such as pine straw, pine bark, cypress or hardwood. Rock or stone mulches increase the heat and water use around plants.

The last tip for successful planting is to water plants only when needed. This encourages root growth and a deeper root system. The roots grow looking for water.

Beekeepers

The Clarks Hill Beekeepers Association will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the Columbia County Library.

Columbia County Extension Agent Charles Phillips can be reached at (706) 868-3413 or by e-mail at charlesp@uga.edu. The Extension Web address is www.ugaextension.com/columbia.