How many of you have heard this statement: “Fall is a good time for planting trees and shrubs.” Ever wonder why? Let’s discuss a few of the most common reasons the Nursery Industry recommends the fall season for planting.  The main benefit to fall/winter planting is that container and ball-and-burlapped plants are less stressed when transplanted during cool, moist weather. The shorter days of these months also trigger plants to slow down and terminate bud growth. During this time the metabolic processes of the plant slow down and the plant goes into a dormant state above ground. That’s right, above ground! What about below ground? Below ground the roots are taking on a more important role and becoming the plant’s main focus. Root growth continues to take place below ground, even though the shoot and leaf production has ceased above ground. This continued root growth is another reason for transplanting plants during the fall and winter months. Most people assume that because deciduous trees and shrubs lose their leaves that they are in a complete dormant state. Not true! A plant’s roots can still actively grow year round. How is this possible when it is so cold outside? We first need to understand that soil temperatures tend to lag behind air temperatures. The soil is holding heat that has been building up during spring and summer. So even though we may feel the chilly air temps outside, the soil around the plant is nice and warm. The plant roots are still growing and storing energy for the upcoming spring workload. Plants transplanted during the fall/winter months require less time and care. A thorough watering after planting is all the water plants will require until shoot growth appears in the Spring. Placing a blanket of mulch 2 to 4 inches in depth around your plants will also help keep the roots warmer and more productive during the cooler weather. Use good mulching materials such as shredded pine bark, bark chips, or pine needles. Be sure to keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk of the plant. These two simple steps are all the plant care required until spring arrives.  So what time of the year should you plant? Anytime in our area is good for planting as the soil temperatures rarely dip below levels for root growth; however, as we have seen, plants are stressed less and the plant caretakers have fewer duties to perform when plants are installed during the fall/ winter months. This is a GREAT time for planting balland- burlapped and containerized trees and shrubs!■