(HOST) At a time when money’s tight, smart shopping is important. Commentator and gardening expert Charlie Nardozzi says that fall is a good time to check out local garden centers for deeply discounted trees and shrubs. And he has some tips on how to get the best deals.
(NARDOZZI) Yes, it’s fall, and most gardeners are looking forward to hanging up their hoes and shovels for winter. However, as you’re doing your fall chores, remember: now is a great time to plant. In particular, fall weather is perfect for planting deciduous trees and shrubs. These plants are losing their leaves, so there’s no demand on the root system for water and nutrients. Also, even though the air is cool, the soil is still warm. The roots of newly planted trees and shrubs love to grow in the warm fall soil. In fact, they will continue to grow until the soil temperatures dip below 40F. In many areas that may not happen until November.
Evergreen trees and shrubs are a little bit different. Evergreen needles and leaves still need water throughout the winter to stay alive. If the roots don’t have enough time to get established before the ground freezes, the needles and leaves may not get the water they need and may dry out when the cold winter weather comes. So, you can plant evergreens now, but you should protect them by wrapping burlap around the plants and keeping the soil evenly moist right until it freezes.
So now that I’ve convinced you to plant in fall, what should you buy? Garden centers and nurseries are loaded with plants they don’t want to hold over winter. That’s why you see these huge sales: 25%, 50%, even 75% off the regular price. Even though the variety is limited, it’s a feeding frenzy for the astute gardener. But you have to be choosy about the plants you select.
When looking at a tree, first check the branches to make sure they aren’t broken and the trunks haven’t been nicked. These wounds offer great opportunities for disease infection. If the plant is grown in a container, check the pots. Chances are the plant may be root bound and the roots are circling the container. That’s okay as long as the roots are white and healthy. Mushy, gray roots mean they’re rotting, and that plant should be avoided. If you’re buying a balled and burlap plant, one with burlap wrapped around the root system, rock the tree or shrub back and forth to see if the rootball moves independently of the plant. If so, the roots never got established in the rootball, and you shouldn’t buy that tree or shrub. Look for a plant that moves as one unit.
Once you get your prized possession home, dig a hole 2 to 3 times the diameter of the rootball’s width, and plant at the same depth it was in the container. If your shrub was rootbound, tease the roots loose with your hands before planting. Unless your soil is very poor, don’t amend it with compost or fertilizer. Mulch, and keep the plant well watered into late fall.
So, with a little knowledge and cash in hand, you can get some great fall trees and shrubs to add to your yard right now.