Plant Trees And Shrubs In The Fall

By Phran Novelli

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - My parents planted a row of trees in early May and were about to plant some more later in the month, but since this spring was so dry, I suggested they wait until autumn. Then, of course, all of a sudden, it started raining like crazy in June!

But even with all the recent storms we've had, it's still smarter and less risky to plant trees and shrubs in the fall.

Planting trees in summer puts all the pressure on you – and your water bill – to keep them hydrated, because newly planted trees just don't have enough roots to get all the moisture they need from the ground. And the bigger they are, the more water they need.

Summer heat is intense, droughty weeks are common, and while you're on vacation or distracted, newly-planted trees and shrubs can fry and die. That's sad for you and expensive too.

So, instead, use the summer months to visit gardens and arboretums and make a list of trees and shrubs you'd like to plant this coming fall. Then, they'll have three seasons to get established before they need to survive a hot summer next year.