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| I'm going to be planting my first bush this fall. I know this is the Tree forum but my question isn't about the Forsythia Lynwood Gold bush, it's about planting in the fall in general.
Forgive my ignorance here, but when is the best time to plant in Zone 5b/6a? Is it when the maples that surround me are completely dormant, or when their leaves start to change color? And what about watering? I'm watering twice a week now, but I don't know how much to water in the fall, in terms of a dormant bush that has just been planted. It must be stressful for the bush so I would think it would need lots of water in my sandy loam soil.... I'm sure I'm over thinking this, but I want to do things right. If you plant in the fall, how often do you water, and for how long do you water a bush? Oh, and the bush will only be 1-2 ft tall, just a babe. Thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| It's not important to consider whether other plants are dormant, but, if the plant being planted is dormant, that's often better (less stressful for the plant). In your area (high zone 5 / low zone 6), you may not want to wait until too late in the year to plant. I wouldn't hesitate to plant as soon as the hottest summer months are over, so dormancy is not at all a necessity for most trees/shrubs. I would continue to monitor soil moisture in the fall just as I would in spring or summer. Water frequency may change, but the need for knowing what's going on with soil moisture doesn't. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Planting a Tree or Shrub
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- Posted by wisconsitom 4/5 WI (My Page) on Sun, Jul 29, 12 at 20:18
| Especially in that this is very unlikely to be a bare root plant, agree with Brandon. Sept, Oct. somewhere in there. Not super-critical. Water as for any new planting...as much as is necessary to keep the soil moist. If rainy, probably not at all. If this confounded drought/heat combo continues into the fall, about like you're doing now. +oM |
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- Posted by strobiculate none (My Page) on Sun, Jul 29, 12 at 20:53
| Technical answer...you want six weeks of soil temps above 40 degrees. Practical answer...once the heat of summer breaks, any time is great. Go too late, use more mulch. |
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- Posted by ilovemytrees 6a Western NY (My Page) on Sun, Jul 29, 12 at 21:40
| Thank you everyone, for all of your answers. I appreciate them so much! |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Mon, Jul 30, 12 at 8:48
| hey .. glad to hear you backed off on the watering ... ok.. first.. if you figure out how to kill a forsythia.. let us know.. i had a neighbor..dig a 2 foot ball.. on a 12 to 15 foot round bush [he cut it to 3 feet] ... IN AUGUST.. and DRAGGED it 2 acres to my lot.. and we stuck it in the ground.. watered it once .. and it lived ... this is a cut it to the ground.. run it over with the truck type of bush ... as are a lot of shrubs ... [i didnt really want it.. but they so wanted to 'save' it .. i had had ground to cover .. i would have just rooted a few pieces .... but apparently.. he needed the exercise .. lol] i dont even think.. presuming its potted.. that i would worry about waiting for dormancy ... i would probably plant it.. as soon as night temps are reliably in the mid to low 60's .. and water it PROPERLY.. thru the root zone.. late into fall ... say.. 11/1 ... for ground freeze areas.. i would want it in the ground.. 6 to 10 weeks before freeze ... which in MI is usually around 1/1 ... they wont need much of any water in nov ... if there is any rain.. the soil simply will not dry out.. like summer ... so insuring water.. just means checking most of the time ... forsythia root freely ... in a glass of water ... so experiment.. and root a couple 6 inch pieces.. and as soon as you see roots.. pot them all together in moist media .. and tent them in a plastic bag .. and in october or so.. bare root and put in a holding area [veggie patch??].. and i would not be surprised if you dont get a couple to winter over ... there is really NOTHING foo foo about shrubs.. they are the workhorses of the back of the garden .. and need little or no SPECIAL care .. once fully established ... absolutely none of my shrubs have gotten any water in this extreme drought and heat ... and though some look a bit ragged ... i fear for none of them ... but again.. they are 10 years on site ... with all your recent experience with planting trees.. and succeeding wildly[how many did you plant this year??] ... shrubs will be a piece of cake.. unless you go foo foo ... and even those.. will just need a little more water care ... ken
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- Posted by ilovemytrees 6a Western NY (My Page) on Tue, Aug 21, 12 at 10:47
| Thanks for responding, Ken. My computer keyboard died and it took forever to get my new keyboard shipped to me. So I apologize for not responding to you sooner. Yes, I have backed off on the watering. I water twice a week; 30 minutes a tree. No foo fooing here! lol I am so glad you and everyone else responded. I'm going to order some Forsythia's from Forest Farm next month, and I can't wait. I'm glad to know these are hardy shrubs. |
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- Posted by ilovemytrees 6a Western NY (My Page) on Thu, Aug 23, 12 at 20:45
| I bought the Forsythia today at a local nursery, and I had no choice but to plant it today as well, due to it's roots having grown out of the bottom of the pot in a huge way. I posted about it on the Shrub Forum and included pics. Thanks everyone for your responses.. |
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