Fall brings a change in the weather and the growing season slows down. A lot of people will put their gardens up for the winter, but there are still some tasks that are better done when temperatures are down. Lower temperatures means less water loss from plants. This makes it an ideal time to start putting perennials in the ground.
Trees that have been grown in a pot or are balled and burlapped that have a well-developed root system can be planted at any time of year. However, the ideal time of year to plant them is in the fall. This is because the top portion of the plant has gone dormant and temperatures are lower, which means the tree will lose less water to evapotranspiration. During this time the roots below ground are still active. That means they will still be growing through fall and the winter. This gives you a more established plant come summer time. It also means that planting in the fall results in you spending less time watering your new plants.
Some of the most common issues when planting new trees is planting too deep, planting too shallow, and over or underwatering.
If you are planting in a poorly drained soil creating a raised bed will help improve drainage. Raise the soil level 8-12 inches using native soil. Plantings at new construction sites may need an addition of organic matter to improve soil health. You will also need to till deeply around the planting site to alleviate soil compaction.
The hole that is dug should be 2-3x wider than the size of the root ball. If you are planting into a well-drained soil the depth of the hole should be the same as the height of the root ball. In a poorly drained soil the depth of the hole should be 2-4 inches less than the height of the root ball, then build up the surrounding soil to be level with the root ball. Planting a tree too deep leads to poor drainage and not enough oxygen getting to the roots. Planting a tree too shallow leads to the tree roots drying out too quickly.
Once you have placed the tree in the hole refill the hole. You want to mostly use native soil. Break up any clods and remove stones. You can add compost to the hole, but don’t put more than 20% compost in the hole. Tamp the soil down with your foot and construct a 3-inch-high ring around the edge of the root ball to hold water. Apply 2-4 inches of mulch over the planted area. Do not put mulch up against the trunk of the tree, as this leads to rot. For the first few months after planting you want to maintain constant soil moisture in the root ball. The soil does not need to be saturated, but there should be water available to the roots.
If you have questions about tree planting contact your County Extension Office or email me at Jacob.Williams@uga.edu.