Fall brings a period of transformation, with its vibrant foliage and cooler temperatures, setting the stage for a vital landscaping endeavor: tree and shrub planting. This is a prime season for planting these essential components of your landscaping.
This article explores why this colorful, milder season is a great time to plant trees and shrubs, highlighting the many benefits. Understanding the importance of fall landscape planting in Barrington, IL, is vital to fostering healthy, resilient, thriving green spaces.
What are the Benefits of Fall Planting?
Many believe in the gardening community that the growing season ends in the fall. That is quite the opposite. Fall is a perfect time to plant trees, shrubs, and other plants. Planting during this time promotes healthy root growth.
Planting trees and shrubs in the fall enables the establishment and expansion of the root systems before the next hot summer arrives. Trees can better adapt to high heat or drought in the summer because of the combination of cooler temperatures and fall rain. You can also choose your trees and shrubs based on the beautiful fall colors they generate, which is another excellent reason to plant in the fall.
An Ideal Time for Fall Planting
An optimal time to plant in the fall is from September to November because it gives the roots time to establish and grow before the ground freezes and winter arrives. We advise against planting after this timeframe because doing so could harm the health of the plants into the next season.
Trees and Shrubs Recommendations for Fall Planting
While Spring is a terrific time of year to plant, there are advantages to planting trees and shrubs in the fall since there is often less rainfall, the soil is more workable and has enough moisture. Here are some of the many magnificent trees and shrubs we recommend for fall planting:
Maple
No other tree compares to a maple tree with its breathtaking fall colors, shade production, and overall landscape beauty, especially red maples (Acer rubrum) and sugar maples (Acer saccharum). Spring or fall is the best time to plant these lovely trees. Maple trees, regardless of their height or the color of their fall foliage, have some common features, such as their deeply lobed leaves and winged seedpod samaras.
Arrowwood Viburnum
Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) is a robust shrub for the winter season. Its deciduous leaves are shiny, dark green, and have pointed edges. In the fall, they turn a beautiful red or yellow color. Its flowers are white, bloom in early summer, and will turn into berry-like fruit, maturing from August through November. This multistemmed shrub will tolerate shade, partial shade, or full sun. It can handle both occasional drought and flooding conditions. There are plenty of options to select from, with each one displaying distinct traits in terms of size, shape, and the sheen of their leaves.
Ornamental Crabapple
What truly sets ornamental crabapples (Malus) apart during autumn is the presence of their small, colorful fruits and vibrant leaf color. These miniature apples, often no larger than a cherry, come in shades of bright red, orange, and even yellow depending on the cultivar. This combination of vibrant foliage and colorful fruit creates a visual spectacle that can transform any garden or landscape into a work of art.
Landscape Planting in Barrington, IL
Entrusting your backyard beautification project to The NL Group can turn your dreams of a stunning outdoor haven into a reality. By harnessing our expertise in landscape planting, we’ll elevate your backyard’s appeal to new heights, creating a space that blends nature’s beauty harmoniously with your vision.
The NL Group, experts in landscape planting located in Barrington, IL, will guide you in selecting the perfect plants to suit your space, soil, and aesthetic preferences.