As a homeowner, there can be a lot of very good reasons to want to plant a tree on your property. Some choose to do it to mark an event, such as moving into a new house, a wedding, or a birth.  Perhaps you are looking for some shade in an area of your yard.  Or maybe you just wish to plant a tree because . . . . . they’re petty.  No better reason than that!  Despite what many might think, Spring, albeit the time of growth and renewal for most living things, is often NOT the best time to plant a tree.  That distinction goes to the Fall.

Before embarking upon this worthwhile adventure, step back and see the big picture.  A tree can be an absolutely WONDERFUL asset to your landscaping, bringing shade, birds, and beauty.  But, like babies and puppies, trees do not stay small and cute – they grow.  And they grow a LOT.  Be sure to consider this when choosing a site for your tree.  The little tree that looks so quaint beside your house might be the very thing that ends up scraping your roof and pulling away your gutters if it is too close to the structure.  And s big as a tree looks from above the ground, the root systems will stretch far wider, affecting everything in its unseen path.  Also consider both above ground and below ground wires and pipes.  Doing so now can prevent disaster as your tree grows later.

Be careful, too, when selecting a type of tree.  Consider what you are looking for – a shade tree?  An ornamental tree?  A fruit tree?  Some draw bees.  Some have potentially annoying droppings and fall-out.  Some produce and lose more leaves or later leaves.  Talk with your local nursery expert about what you do and don’t want, and they can help you choose the type that is right for your needs.

And why do this in the Fall?  Spring and Summer can bring very warm days, with lots of sun.  Too much of these things can actually be damaging to a young tree that hasn’t established itself with a solid root system yet.  Planting in the Fall will allow time for the visible tee to lie dormant, while the root system strengthens and expands even throughout the winter.  That way it will be much better able to create new growth and be strong in the following warm months. Oh, and be prepared to work.  As big as you THINK the hole needs to be dug to accommodate your new tree, it will undoubtedly have to be even bigger.

Here’s a great site that provides a kind of “Idiot’s Guide To Tree Planting” : Plant a Tree  But, again, you’ll definitely want to have a detailed discussion with your local nursery worker, who would be familiar with your local climate, soil, and issues.

“I think that there will never be, a poem so lovely as a tree.”  Planting a tree is a wonderful investment for your property.  It is well worth doing correctly.