Planting now will allow the root system to be really established by next summer
Lorraine Kiefer
It seems like the heat of summer is gone. Even though days are still warm when the sun is out, nights are cooler. This always means planting to me. I like to plant some fall crops in the gardens with greens, radishes, dill, and beets on the top of the list.
It is also a good time to plant perennials, trees and shrubs. I plan to add some berry plants to the border around our garden. I want more currents so I will get more fruit to make jelly. Since it is a good time to plant blueberries and raspberries I will add these too. These will bear a lot of fruit next season if trimmed back now and fed very early in the spring.
I remember when we were first in the nursery business there were large banners that most nurseries hung out the said "Fall is for Planting!" It is still the best time to plant.
Another evergreen shrub will add winter color to a landscape. A plant with colorful berries, like this blueberry bush, will also look good in winter. Fall is good since when winter comes the plants become dormant, yet the roots continue to grow. Fall planting allows the food produced during the summer to be directed to root growth since there is little demand from the top. This root system will be really established by summer and will provide the plant with water and nutrients for good growth.
Do you have a compost pile where you throw your weeds, leaves and grass clippings. Plants will really respond to soil in which you mix compost. If you don't have a compost pile make one now. You can buy composted organic materials and even have a load of it dumped in your yard to use in all the beds. Good compost will have a rich, earthy smell and a crumbly appearance.
Once you pick out some shrubs or a tree be sure to plant at the right depth and always soak them in well. A good soaking is needed if they are to establish themselves and flourish. In well-drained soil, the planting hole should never be dug any deeper than the height of the root ball. When you add compost to the hole be sure to mix it in well, do not just put it around the root ball. A light mulch on top will also be beneficial to the plant after it is really soaked well.
The soil used to fill in around the root ball of the newly planted tree or shrub is called backfill. It is the original soil from the hole but you can mix in some compost.
Kousa Dogwood (left) and Winterberry Holly. Always Loosen and break up any clods of soil before backfilling. My soil is so sandy I don't have this problem. If heavy soils clods when filling in, it can cause air pockets on the root ball. Always break the clods up. I often use my foot to lightly tamp soil and then soak it well to settle all.
It helps to add 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the plant, but don't touch it to the stem or trunk. Some mulch will keep weeds down, keep soil moist and moderate soil temperature.
Be sure to maintain moisture the first few weeks after planting in fall. This has to be much longer in spring and summer. Remember that good watering is needed for new plants to become established and be healthy and resistant to drought, pests and disease. If you plant now you should wait till March to fertilize the plant.
It is a good idea to fill in flower beds with perennials now. They will be so much stronger and bloom longer next spring and summer. If you have an empty spot at the back of a flower bed you may want to add a butterfly bush or a rose. If it is bare in the middle try a phlox, black eyed Susan or a red salvia. Along the edge you can do a mountain pink or some other short plant.
I always stress to people that another evergreen shrub will add winter color to a landscape. A plant with colorful berries will also look good in winter.
If your yard looks dull now find plants in bloom such as hydrangea, blue mist shrub, crape myrtle and add them so you have end of season color.
Do it soon while the weather is pleasant and plant will look good until frost.
If you want to add more native plants to your garden for birds and butterflies you can do so now too. Add some butterfly weed, ironweed and cardinal flowers to any gardening the butterflies will come. Plant some holly, bayberry, clethra, choke berry, cranberry, blueberry or elderberry, all natives you will love.
Remember that many perennials drop their seeds in late summer and fall, so it is also a good time to plant some seeds. i always sprinkle larkspur, poppies and a few other cold hard seeds that will sprout up early next spring. Do as mother nature does and plant these seeds now.
If you want to learn more about native plants, sign up for the six session native plant class Oct. 12 - Nov. 9. held at Triple Oaks sponsored by Rowan/Gloucester county college. https://conted.rcgc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&Course=17FPLN10001%20&DirectFrom=Schedule&Origin=Search+Results.
Lorraine Kiefer is the owner and operator of Triple Oaks Nursery in Franklinville. She can also be reached by e-mail at Lorraine@tripleoaks.
Lorraine Kiefer is the owner and operator of Triple Oaks Nursery in Franklinville. She can also be reached by e-mail at Lorraine@tripleoaks.