Landscape - Fall Tree Planting: What Not to Plant

November is the time we do fall plantings for deciduous trees. However, there are some trees that are best planted in spring. The following is information on trees that are best not planted in the fall.

Fall tree transplanting is recommended for many tree species.Some trees, however, perform better when transplanted in the spring. These sensitive species include: birch, red maple, oak, dogwood, hornbeam, hawthorn, hemlock, golden-rain tree, tulip tree, plane tree/sycamore, popular, Prunus spp., willow, silver linden, and zelkova. If these species must be planted in the fall, be sure to allow for extra water at the time of planting and until the ground freezes in December/January. Of course, most evergreens are best planted in the spring.

Information from Steven K. Rettke, Ornamental IPM Program Associate, in the November 2, 2006 edition of the Plant and Pest Advisory, Landscape, Nursery and Turf Edition from Rutgers University.