What trees and shrubs to plant in October? Now is the right time to plant these species

Trees and shrubs can be planted in the ground not only in spring. In some cases, fall is the best time to plant. We shall explain the advantages of fall planting and why it is worth it. So, let’s see what trees and shrubs to plant in October.

Plant trees and shrubs in October: What are the advantages of fall planting?

Generally, most trees and shrubs can be planted in the ground as early as fall. October is the right time for this because the ground is not yet frozen and the plants can develop their roots. Bare-rooted species in particular need time to root through the earth. They are brought forward in the garden centers in the summer and early fall and then stored until spring. However, a long storage time can have a negative effect on the tree. Individual parts of the plant could rot, pests could spread and most plants would then be weakened anyway. So if you want to buy healthy plants at a reasonable price, then fall is the right time to do so.

Important when buying bare-root species: you can keep them until the end of April. It is best to plant them in the ground as soon as possible.

For which species does it make sense to plant in the spring?

Coniferous trees, hedge plants that are sensitive to frost and exotic species such as hibiscus should not be planted until April. They need longer to develop their fine roots. When planting in fall, there is a risk that the soil will freeze before the shrubs and trees can develop their roots. In this case, the trees will dry because they cannot absorb the water.

What flowering shrubs to plant in October?

If you want to add some color to your garden in spring and summer then flowering shrubs are a great option. These types are suitable:

What trees and shrubs to plant in the fall: hydrangeas

In fall you can plant the hydrangea species that will sprout and flower. Such are, for example, the snowball hydrangea or the panicle hydrangea. They will be pruned back heavily in March anyway.

Fall planting makes sense for ball hydrangea varieties “Annabelle”, “Incrediball” and “Belle”, as well as for panicle hydrangea varieties “Hercules”, “Pink Lady”, “Magical Flame”.

The hydrangeas, which, however, have flower buds on perennial shoots, can freeze to death in fall and will then no longer bloom next spring.

You can also plant forsythia in October

Forsythia can be planted from October to March, even April. In regions with a mild climate, planting in fall is even recommended, because there is more precipitation in the cold season. The “Magical Gold” variety tolerates frosts particularly well. However, in order for it to sprout vigorously next year, it should be planted in the ground by mid-October, before the first frost. The young plant needs time to adapt to the conditions of the new location.

Trees and shrubs to plant in October: roses

Rose bushes are placed in the bed between mid-October and the end of November. An important prerequisite for their good development is that they are planted during a frost-free period. However, the shoots of the young plant need frost protection in order to get through the winter well. Pile on a layer of soil at least 30 cm thick and then lay out a 15 cm layer of mulch.

The planting season for lilacs begins in September and ends in November

Lilac is one of the shrubs that benefit from fall planting. This gives the tree enough time to root through the soil and adapt to the new location before it sprout again in spring and forms flowers. Varieties that get through the winter without any problems are, for example, the royal lilac, the dwarf lilac, and various hybrids.

Which trees can you plant in fall?

Not only flowering shrubs can be planted in fall. There are also many types of trees that you can put in the ground in October. We list several examples and explain what to consider when planting.

Hardy fruit trees

Hardy fruit trees can even tolerate sub-zero temperatures without any problems. The young trees are sold bare-rooted in autumn and should therefore be planted as soon as possible after purchase, ideally in early October. In the winter months, the trees can then take root well.

These include the following species:

• Apple
• cherry
• sour cherry
• plums
• quinces

Even berry bushes, although they are not classified as trees, are among the hardy plants and can be planted in the ground in fall.

When planting, you should pay particular attention to the proper depth and width of the hole. In addition, most fruit trees must be supported. To do this, place a support pole in the ground about two hand widths from the tree. Then fill the hole with soil (if the soil is poor in nutrients, you can mix in organic compost). Then step on the earth. Finally, all that remains is to tie the tree to the supporting pole and water it.

Shade trees

Trees such as the red maple, the pear or the monk’s pepper are the perfect shade providers for the balcony or patio. Remove weeds before planting. Do not plant them too deeply and lay a layer of 5cm to 7cm of mulch to prevent the moisture in the soil from evaporating too quickly.