Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Planting before the ground freezes
You can still plant healthy shrubs and trees into November! This does NOT mean evergreens. You need to wait till next spring for them.
While our temperatures can get pretty cold, the ground in our zone 3 and 4 climates doesn’t “generally” freeze until late in November and December. That means you can take advantage of deals at your local nursery.
When shopping, don’t be afraid to take the plants out of their container, if you can do so without harming them, to see that the roots are in good shape. Root bound is not a problem unless you can’t be brutal in your root pruning. Take a look at the video below to learn how to get your plant out of the pot and root pruning…
Don’t buy plants with a lot of yellowing, mushy roots. A few roots or mushy is okay but prune them out!
Dig a hole that’s twice as wide but no deeper than your plant’s container. It’s important to plant your new plant with the crown/root flare ABOVE the soil.
Before planting, pull those longer roots out to the side, not circling. If they’re too long, it’s okay to cut them back to fit the hole.
This time of year, adding fertilizer is not important but adding root stimulator IS a good idea, it’s THEIR establishment you want, not foliage growth.
Water well, let it soak in and then add the rest of the soil and tamp it down. Leave a ditch around the outer edge of your planting hole to allow the water to soak in, not just travel down the lawn. Add a good 4 to 6 inches of mulch or more depending on plant size. Remember donut not volcano.
The most important thing is to continue to water your new plants until the ground freezes. Ask the nursery for a watering schedule.
