The author of the text is Dr. Wiesław Szydło
In garden centers and nurseries of ornamental trees and shrubs, for several years we have been observing an increase in plant sales in the spring and a clear decline in autumn. The planting date is closely related to the sale. Thus, when analyzing sales throughout the year, it is clear that most of the plants are now planted in the spring season, while the second basic planting date - autumn - is much losing importance.It is worth asking yourself why is this so? Is this a favorable phenomenon?Is the fall term perhaps a bad planting period?
Answering such questions, it should be clearly emphasized that autumn planting (especially September and October) has a number of advantages and is in no way inferior to the spring planting period, and sometimes it may even turn out to be a better term.Autumn planting may translate into very good results of receptions and further plant growth.
The only exception is the late planting (November / December) of species with low frost resistance, such as magnolias, rhododendrons, laurel, holly, and fireflies. In this case, it is better to abandon plantings and do it in the spring. So what are the advantages of autumn planting?
Advantage1: Plants take on well
It is closely related to the weather that usually prevails in Poland at that time.Plants bypass the summer heat period, which sometimes occurs at the end of May and has a strong negative effect on the growth of plants planted in spring. We could observe this phenomenon this year, when the July heat wave hit Poland and many plants planted in May and June, without constant irrigation, withered away.
In autumn we have more rainfall, so freshly planted plants experience better (more stable) moisture conditions in the substrate, which has a colossal impact on the absorption of plants.
Increased amount of rainfall has a very beneficial effect on the acceptance of plants, especially in gardens and recreational plots left unattended, as well as in urban plantings.As the day is getting shorter, even on sunny days plants are less likely to dry out than in summer.
The numerous mists also have a positive effect on limiting plant transpiration. The temperature of the soil is favorable for the development of the root system, which is of great importance for the wintering of plants and their growth in the next year.
Advantage2: plants grow better next year
This is a huge advantage of the autumn planting date. It is worth knowing that plants planted in spring will first of all take root and all their energy will be directed at this process.We as observers will not see this in the form of a wonderful development of the above-ground part, because the process will take place underground.
The situation will be completely different when we plant the plants in the fall. The rooting process will then be carried out from September to November (December), and in March, April and May our plants will start very intensive vegetation.
In the case of spring and early summer flowering species, we can therefore expect intensive floweringSuch plants will also be better prepared for possible summer heat, and will be more resistant to pathogens .They will also make better use of mineral fertilization.
These species are better to be planted in the fall
Autumn planting dates are especially recommended for planting evergreen species with a root ball.In this case, planting should be started at the end of August and continued until October.Good results are obtained in autumn by planting most deciduous trees.
ATTENTION!It is worth planting plants from the so-called bare root, as their rooting period is automatically extended by 2-3 months compared to spring planting. In autumn, it is also worth planting species that begin their growth very early in spring, e.g. larches, chestnut trees, apple trees, willows and lindens.
