Released September 30, 2009
URBANA, Ill. -- Investing in landscaping in the fall is not only wise, it improves the environment and impresses the neighbors, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator.
"The fall is an excellent time to plant trees and shrubs," said Jeff Rugg. "It is also the time when landscape centers need to make room for new stock."
As the top of plants go dormant, trees and large shrubs can be dug from the nursery fields. The plants are stored over the winter for planting the following spring and summer. It is more convenient for landscape centers to clear out any unsold stock now to make room for the incoming harvest than to save trees that were dug a year ago.
"This means that any plant that was previously dug up, balled and burlapped or growing in a container, is better off in the ground now and not going through another winter out of the ground," he explained.
Selecting plants
"This can lead to some good bargains, if you know what you are looking at. Usually, a plant that is only marked down a little is pretty healthy and should be well worth the investment. If a tree is marked down more than 50 percent, it may be more than half dead. It will take some investigation to determine if the tree is worth any money at all. If the tree has a warranty, that the tree will leaf out in the spring, it may be worth a little money."
If the tree only has a few leaves, look to see if they are scattered throughout the whole plant. That is much better than leaves only growing on one side of the tree. A tree with a uniform but skimpy canopy may be strengthened back into being a healthy tree with the good care of an experienced gardener.
Determining if the tree has healthy branches after the leaves have fallen off in the fall is not too hard.
"First, check the stems to see if they have a uniform color and shape," Rugg explained. "The color will vary between species, but dead branches will be a different color and once you see both kinds on the tree, you can judge how much of the tree is alive. Healthy stems tend to stay uniformly smooth and plump. Dead or dying branches tend to be wrinkled or shriveled. A gentle scratch with a thumbnail should reveal a soft, thin bright green layer of tissue right under the bark."
"Next, check the buds. Each place that once contained a leaf should have a bud. On some plants the buds are minute, but most plants have large buds. If the buds are plump and uniformly covering the plant, then it should leaf out reasonably well next spring."
Finally, if you can, check the root system. This is easier in container-grown plants than in ball and burlapped. The roots should be white, not brown. They should be uniformly spread out around the root ball or container. Roots that go around a container many times will need to be pruned and spread out when planted.
"The plant will still not be a bargain if it will not grow well in the spot you have planned for it," he said. "Check with your local Certified Nurseryman or Cooperative Extension professional for recommendations for your site.
"Trees are long-term investments. Drive through an older mature neighborhood and you will see old nice trees. They probably did not get there on their own. One of the first outdoor investments each property owner should make is trees, and this time of year is a good one to get a bargain."
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http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/news/stories/news4910.html
Source: Jeff Rugg, (630) 553-5823
Writer: Gary Beaumont, 217-333-9440, beaumont@uiuc.edu
