One of the most common questions we get is “When is the best time to plant trees?”. Although we plant trees all year-long, the very best time of the year is in the fall and early winter. When planted between October and the New Year, trees have the best chance of survival. This is true for most shrubs, perennials and sod. Let’s look at why this is true in the Houston area.

It is cooler for us to work in the yard, during the fall. Be honest, how much do you enjoy working in the sun on a hot, summer day? Or do you really want to give up a beautiful spring day to yard work, instead of enjoying the day with your family. Life is all about choices, this decision is easy.
We usually get some good rains in the fall, making it easier to dig. Have you ever tried to dig a hole in your yard…in August? You could throw your back out, without a jack-hammer.
Trees and plants that are installed in the fall will do better in the long run. Most plants are dormant in the winter, but don’t be fooled into thinking that they are doing nothing. During the fall and winter, plants put on amazing amounts of growth. We just don’t see it, it happens underground. Root growth is the number 1 thing you want transplants to do. The best seasons to do this, are cool ones. The longer your trees and shrubs are in the ground before they try to flower or put on new growth, the bigger the root system will be.
Watering new trees and shrubs is easier in cooler months. Instead of every day, you may get away with as little as once a week. We recommend that you follow our Tree Care Guide. https://rcwnurseries.com/data/stories_rcw/other/4_TREE_CARE_2010.pdf Always check the moisture level before you water. Plants can die from too much water as easily as not enough. This goes for all your plants. By the spring-flowering and growth you will be in the habit of checking your tree and less likely to forget about it when it is more crucial.

Whether you have a professional installation or do it yourself, the benefits of planting in the fall are amazing. Plants and trees installed this fall, will be a year and a half ahead of the ones you plant next spring. The ones you plant in the spring will just want to flower and grow at the cost of the root system. Your fall plantings will take off in the spring at an incredible rate, on their larger root systems.