Landscaping, Shade Trees and Shrubs, Shrubs

Fall is a Good Time to Plant Trees and Shrubs

Fall is a good time to plant trees and shrubs even better than spring. It is cooler and the weeds are less of a problem and you have more time to spend in the garden or landscape.

Most container plants will be root-bound this time of year. Just be aggressive and rough up the root ball so the roots will break into the surrounding soil. Just keep watered and later on before the ground freezes, mulch with a couple of inches of mulch. The keeps the ground from freezing and thawing, breaking the new roots.

Plant up to 6 weeks before the top of the ground freezes. With a mulch, you can extend the planting time to the end of October. I planted two shrub roses actually in November six years ago and they are still growing.

Landscaping, Shade Trees and Shrubs

Weeping Mulberry

Many of us that plant shrubs and trees, anything that will take the heat of summers and the cold of winters. While that is the main consideration, there are others like leaf color, growth habit, fruit, and so on. A weeping mulberry is a good example of growth habit and form.

Weeping Mulberry Tree
Weeping Mulberry Tree

Take my weeping white mulberry tree. The variety is “Chaparral” which is a male cultivar making this tree fruitless. Planting a weeping tree does make a statement. The Chaparral grows up to fifteen feet with branches coming to the ground. Once established it is drought tolerant. Also, mulberries have no pest or disease problem, and deer leave them alone.

This variety comes from the white mulberry tree, which is native to Asia, however, is naturized in this country. It is the food for the silkworm and was why it was imported to the United States. The silkworm industry was short-lived, and the tree was grown for shade and fruit. The two other mulberries are black and red which are native to Europe and North America.

Mulberries have male and female trees, and it takes two of these trees to produce fruit on the female tree. Many people find the fruit very messy in the landscape, which is why you want to look at getting a male variety.

One note, the weeping mulberry tree is very slow in leafing out waiting till the end of May.

Landscaping, Shade Trees and Shrubs

Weeping Trees and Shrubs

Landscaping with weeping trees and shrubs should always be considered. Since they will attract the attention of the viewer, they should be planted in the background with other plants around them.

The picture of the full-grown weeping willow next to a pond always comes to mind. Just do not forget the many different evergreens and deciduous trees and shrubs you can use in your back or front yard. Cultivars range from a foot tall to over 60 feet with different textures, colors, and shapes.

For instance, a weeping river birch in the center of the backyard surrounded with yellow foliage barberries and perennials brings out the peach-colored bark since this tree does not cast a lot of shade. For willows try hostas which will take more shade.

If you want the tree to be the focal point, just create a rock garden around the trunk. Fewer weeds! A weeping tree always reminds me of water, so you can place a little garden fountain or pond next to it. Maybe add a bench underneath as a place to unwind after a hard day.