The Perfect Conditions To Plant Trees

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What is the best time to plant trees? Or better yet, when is the best time to plant trees? According to Roxanne Washington of The Plain Dealer, the best time to plant trees is when the soil is warm and wet.

If you're considering adding a tree to your landscape, October is a great month to do so.

"It's a terrific time," says Lois Rose, a master gardener with Ohio State University's Cuyahoga Extension. "The soil is still warm, and we're getting lots of rain. Those conditions give a new tree plenty of time for its roots to establish."

Says Charles Tubesing, plant collections curator at Holden Arboretum, "I'm comfortable planting until mid-October. As long as the soil is 40 degrees or above, roots can grow."

Before purchasing a tree, have your soil tested to determine if it could use a nutrient boost. Ohio State University Extension provides testing through the University of Massachusetts laboratory. For more information, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Ohio State University Extension, Cuyahoga County, 9127 Miles Ave., Cleveland, OH 44105.

Before purchasing a tree, consider how tall and wide it will be at maturity. Will it spread so wide that it eventually shades a flower bed that needs lots of sun? Will it get so tall that it will interfere with overhead wires on the property? If so, keep looking.

Once you've found the right tree for the right space, ask how long the tree has been at the garden center.

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