Prepping Your Garden For The Cooler Months Ahead
A thriving summer garden begins with proper winter care. Taking the time to prepare now will set the stage for a vibrant return in the spring. For planting your trees and shrubs follow these quick steps for a healthy and successful garden.
Fall can be the perfect season to plant new trees and shrubs, as long as you plant them at the right time. The ideal planting window is at least one month before the ground freezes. In New Hampshire, this typically falls between mid-October and mid-November. To give your trees and shrubs the best chance to thrive, aim to plant them by mid-October. That way, they’ll have enough time to establish roots and be well-prepared for a vibrant spring. In addition to planting your trees and shrubs at the appropriate time, follow these 5 steps to ensure they are healthy and blooming come spring.
Water: Make sure to keep already established shrubs and trees well watered into late fall. Moisture will help them survive the harsh New England winter conditions.
Apply Mulch: Add a two to four inch layer of mulch around the base of the shrubs and trees. Make sure you are keeping this away from the trunk to prevent rotting.
Prune: Make sure to prune your plants once they have entered dormancy. Dormancy is when plants growth naturally slows, this typically is triggered by shorter daylight and decreasing temperatures. Due to the dry summer that we experienced plants will most likely experience this earlier this season.
Protect the Trunk: Consider wrapping your shrubs and trees to protect them from damage. You can use tree wraps or even consider guards for younger trees.
Below are some great options of both shrubs and trees to plant this fall!
If you have questions or would like help with garden care, visit our Garden Center for all the supplies and helpful expert advice you need.