It's not too late to plant!

Fall colors at Oak Ridge Shrubbery

Fall foliage viewed from our stoneyard

 Fall is for planting!  Woody shrubs and trees are the ideal candidates for fall plantings.  September and October are ideal months to plant, but you can still plant in November too.  Fall is an ideal time because we still have warm ground temperatures, but the air temps have dropped, which means less watering as well as less sweating.

Planting with soil amendments is the key to success in our clay soils.  Cow manure and soil conditioners are the answer to good plant nutrition and drainage.  Hole sizes need to be generous, at least twice as wide as the existing root ball (or pot) and one and a half times as deep.  You want to plant trees and shrubs 1/2"-3/4" high, meaning the grade of the plant (top of the root ball) needs to be slightly higher than your existing soil grade).

Watering new plants through their first year is important.  Much less water is needed during the cooler months, but do remember that new plants still have watering needs (albeit not as much).  All plants will continue to need water during the winter months if we have a dry season with no snow or little rain.  Keep in mind that cold temperatures and winds can still desiccate the soil.

Fertilization can be done on a limited basis in September.  I recommend this only for trees and shrubs whose color is off.  Yellowing or uncharacteristic pale green foliage is an indication of lack of fertility.  You want to follow the direction for the size of the plant, but go with half of the recommended rate during the cold months.  When fertilizing more, most assuredly is not better.  Use Hollytone or Treetone.  Do not use grass fertilizer like 10-10-10!  Tree and shrub fertilizers provide yoru plants with the correct amount of micronutrients without giving them the jolt that is caused by grass fertilizer.

For more detailed information on planting trees and shrubs, check out our blog article How to install a plant in Guilford County.

Keeping your gardens looking great throughout the fall is possible, despite the crazy heat from this summer.  Encore Azaleas, knock out roses, and Loropetalum bring a re-emergence of color in the fall.  Gardenias, black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, dianthus, and many other flowers may also bloom again in the fall with careful pruning.  Cutting off old blooms will promote a colorful fall surge.

Additional plants to consider:
Flowering:

Toad Lily

• Anemones
• Toad Lilies
• Asters
• Chrystanthemums

Berrying:

Callicarpa (Beautyberry)

• Callicarpa (Beautyberry)
• Ilex verticellata (Winterberry)

 Color changing foliage:

Oakleaf Hydrangea

• Wildfire black gum
• Korean Stweartia
• Japanese Maple
• Chinese Pistachio trees
• Oakleaf Hydrangea

We are now operating under winter hours.   Drop by the garden center and check out our latest featured plants!