After a cooler than usual August in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, we just endured several record days of heat for September and it was also one of the driest Septembers on record. Now we’ve cooled off a little (finally!) to more “normal” temperatures for this time of year. What does this mean for your lawn and fall landscape?
Plant trees, shrubs and perennials!
Autumn Blaze Maple
Perennial Grass
Burning Bush
Cooling temperatures are a great indicator that it’s a great time to plant trees, shrubs and perennials. The cooler air means less stress on the plants and more energy will go towards establishing a good, healthy root system. The root systems continue to grow and develop as long as the soil temperatures remain above 40 degrees. That means, with the air cooling off, the sooner you plant, the better. Ground temperatures take a long time to warm in the Spring, thus the root growth and establishment takes longer in the Spring than in the Fall. The cooler air temps also allow new plantings to grow with far less stress the following spring as the roots have already started to “hook in”. Therefore, Fall is the BEST time to plant.
To help ensure the best results on your Fall plantings, we recommend Purple Cow planting amendment and Dr. Earth Root Zone starter fertilizer.
Be on the look out for our next blog which will be on what to do with your lawn come Fall. Remember, Alsip Home & Nursery is your Best in the Region Garden Center for quality, selection and value of plant material and accessories.
– Bryon Angerman, Tree Board President – St. John, IN;
Tree Board Member – Crown Point, IN