Green Fingers: Autumn - the natural time for planting

Dec 18 2008 By Greg Burns

This is a great time of year for planting all kinds of deciduous trees, shrubs, hedges and climbers -as well as fruit trees, bushes, espaliers, cordons and fans.

The sooner new plants can be settled into the ground, the better – as soil conditions over the next couple of weeks look set to be perfect for planting.

Relatively speaking, due to the current milder winters, soil remains ‘warm’ well into the New Year – charged by a summer of sun and high temperatures.  The slow release of radiant heat encourages quick and healthy root growth, while at the same time, shortening days encourage deciduous plants to prepare for a winters rest, by decreasing chlorophyll levels in their leaves.  As the green fades away, yellow, orange and red tints appear, previously hidden within the plants tissues.

In most cases, by the height of summer next year, it will be obvious which plants were established before Christmas, by their superior growth and health - and which were left to the New Year.  An extra month or two of steady root growth always pays dividends in a dry summer, or when a quick air of maturity is needed.

Whether planting bare-root or pot-grown specimens - the principles always remain the same.  Protect vulnerable roots from drying winds and keep the root ball moist – before, during and after planting.  Settle plants in as soon as possible after purchase, as weather conditions allow; preparing the planting hole thoroughly and back filling with improved garden soil.
 
Though the ground may feel damp or ‘moist’ to the touch, it’s still important to water plants fully, settling the soil closely around their roots and reducing remaining airspaces.

In exposed, open or particularly windy situations, the addition of a stake and tree tie or ‘cross’ ties of some sort, will reduce stress to the plant and speed establishment.  Roots that are being constantly pulled through the soil by violently flexing top-growth, never establish satisfactorily – often leading to disappointing results.  All standard trees and bushes, or trained fruit trees that are used to support, must be made secure with strong stakes driven into the ground and adequately buckled using flexible tree ties.

As autumn leaf fall opens the way for a huge range of field-grown stock to be lifted, new crops of fruit trees and bushes, long-awaited since the summer, are on-hand once more.  Varieties that were in short supply over the summer months are available in abundance – and at the perfect time to establish a new fruit garden or orchard from scratch.

Memories of summer cherry trees, heavily laden with ripening fruit; gooseberry bushes and raspberries in profusion, ripe for the picking – rightly triggers the longing for a perfectly stocked fruit garden at home.

Add to these, fragrant peaches and nectarines, damsons, greengages and plums – all easy to grow outdoors – and you are well on the way to achieving the goal of a productive summer orchard.

Modern ‘dwarfing’ rootstocks enable many trees to be squeezed into the average sized garden, by gently restricting their rate of growth and lowering overall tree height.  Pollination is simple with reliably ‘self-fertile’ varieties; ensuring a bumper crop of fruit every single year.
 

IN THE GARDEN THIS WEEK…

Children learn by doing and having fun.  Encourage a passion for gardening early on – inspiring with imaginative games and play outdoors.

Look at colourful planting – how does it make you feel?  Smell the flowers, touch the leaves and teach how to identify the simple ones.

Allow them to explore – using their imagination and initiative to become inspired by the presence of nature.

Viewing a garden from above is a great way to appreciate the patterns of pathways, beds and borders…. leading on to drawing plans and creating garden schemes.