The Plant Man column
for publication week of 11/09/03 - 11/15/03
(786 words)
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The Plant Man
by Steve Jones
www.landsteward.org


Fall planting: should you fertilize now?


The crisp weather... the golden leaves swirling in sudden gusts of chill
breezes. Yes: fall is definitely here, and for landscapers and gardeners,
this is that special time when we devote our outdoor time to planting...
with visions of spring and summer blooms dancing in our heads!

Fall always brings a flurry of questions from readers of this column. I try
to answer all questions and comments via e-mail within 24 hours or so, and
then select some of them from time to time for publication here. If you
have a question or need some help with trees, shrubs or landscaping, you can
reach me at

QUESTION: "We're in the middle of fall planting and we have a question.
Should we fertilize as we plant?" – M & P.

ANSWER: In my opinion, there is really no reason to fertilize in the fall
since the sap is ready to go down and the plant is preparing to go into
dormancy. However, it is an excellent time to build up the soil around the
plant by mixing potash, compost or other organic matter into the soil. Don't
just pile it up next to the trunk however. Reason: It could possibly "burn"
the plant or attract unwelcome bugs.

QUESTION: "We really enjoy your column. I have a question about trees for
you. I am looking for a tree to shade a patio. I was thinking about an ash,
either green or purple. My dad has an ash, I think it's a green ash and it
did great for about 20 years. Now it breaks limbs every time it storms. So
I'm unsure about planting an ash. I want something fairly hardy, able to
withstand storms, as I don't want branches falling on my house. Any ideas
would be appreciated." – Pete & Tracy K.

ANSWER: The Ash is a fast grower but is now getting a disease that was
brought over from China. This tree I'm afraid seems to be going the same way
as the Elm about 40 years ago.

I have to ask: Why do you want such a large tree by your patio? Of course
there are several choices in large trees that will fit the bill. The one
that I would recommend is the fast growing Red Maple "Autumn Blaze" . Once
established it grows about 5 foot a year yet it is a strong tree. You can
plant a 3-5 foot tree and expect it to be 14 foot tall and about 2 to 3 inch
caliper in about three years.
I have an alternative suggestion to either Ash or Maple. There are other
patio trees that will still provide good shade if trimmed properly like the
forest pansy red bud or any of the flowering cherry trees like the ones seen
in DC during cherry blossom festival time.

QUESTION: "We recently moved to the Midwest. Can we safely plant in the
fall?" – Jerry M.

ANSWER: Yes! Even though the tree or shrub is is going dormant, the roots
will continue to grow as long as the soil is warm. As a rule of thumb, you
can plant August - October in cold climates, September - October in mild
climates, and October - November in warm climates.

The roots will become well established by spring. Generally, spring-planted
plants grow more slowly than fall-planted plants because the plant focuses
on its roots rather than top growth. If you can plant and still have about
six weeks before the ground starts freezing, then you can safely fall-plant.
Remember to mulch quite generously around the base of the plant.

QUESTION: "What can I use on a sloped area that tends to wash away? It is
now full of weeds. Can I plant some type of vegetation that will look nice?
There are many ruts so it's impossible to mow. I'm looking for something
that is economical and requires little or no maintenance! Thanks for any
help." – Pat

ANSWER: Unfortunately you will have to level the soil and start over with a
"clean palette" to work with. I believe the ruts will only get larger even
with vegetation around them. Once you get the area in good shape you can use
any kind of groundcover that thrives in your zone. There are several
archived "Plant Man" columns on groundcover at my web site,
www.landsteward.org or send me another e-mail with some specific details
about your location, amount of shade, etc, and I'll give you some
suggestions.

The Plant Man is here to help. Send your questions about trees, shrubs and
landscaping to and for resources and additional
information, including archived columns, visit www.landsteward.org where you
can also subscribe to Steve's free e-mailed newsletter.