Fall Planting

Many gardeners think late summer and fall are poor times to plant, however most trees, shrubs and perennials put on a great deal of root growth at this time of year. This makes September an ideal month to plant.

Here are some important tips:

Fertilize

When transplanting, ensure you use a transplant fertilizer such as Plant Prod Root Booster or Plant Prod 10-52-10 to help establish a strong root system. Root Booster contains an additional rooting hormone to help stimulate root hair development.

Planting

Note that late summer stock will have highly established root systems, and may be slightly pot bound. Once plants are removed from pots, ensure you loosen the root ball well, and ‘tickle’ the roots. Be sure your planting hole is dug large enough with a rich, garden soil mixture.

Water Well

Water plants in well and keep the ground evenly moist, not saturated, until late October or early November.

Ross Root Feeder

One of the main reasons hardy plants have trouble overwintering is due to a lack of moisture in fall. A Ross Root Feeder is the most effective method of deep root watering. Attach the feeder to a hose & simply probe the feeder deep below the soil level to water the roots. Works great on new plantings & established trees.