Q.
Would it be safe to plant a flowering plum tree in September or October or
should I wait until spring?
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| This plum will look fairly good in this climate if the soils are amended at the time of planting and the soil is covered with about 4 – 6 inches of woodchips |
A. I would wait until maximum daytime temperatures dropped down to the
low 90s or high 80s. In Las Vegas that would probably be late September or
early October. I would be comfortable planting trees until about 1 November.
low 90s or high 80s. In Las Vegas that would probably be late September or
early October. I would be comfortable planting trees until about 1 November.
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| Summer temperatures are just too hot for planting |
There are plants that like to be put
in the ground when it’s hot. Palms are an example. They don’t like to be
planted when it’s cold. The cut off for planting hybrid Bermudagrass is the end
of July. It needs about two months of hot weather to knit into the soil.
in the ground when it’s hot. Palms are an example. They don’t like to be
planted when it’s cold. The cut off for planting hybrid Bermudagrass is the end
of July. It needs about two months of hot weather to knit into the soil.
Actually, Fall is an ideal time to
plant if you can find the plants you want. Fall planting gives you two times
when the weather is nice; fall and the following spring.
plant if you can find the plants you want. Fall planting gives you two times
when the weather is nice; fall and the following spring.
If you find a tree on sale now it
will take a lot of diligence to keep it from getting damaged because of the
heat. I would put it on the east side of the building and make sure it gets
protection from the late afternoon sun. Or put it in filtered light.
will take a lot of diligence to keep it from getting damaged because of the
heat. I would put it on the east side of the building and make sure it gets
protection from the late afternoon sun. Or put it in filtered light.
If it’s in a 5 gallon container, I
would water it twice each day; once in the morning before it gets hot and the
second time in the afternoon. Don’t let direct sunlight directly on the
container. The surface temperature will heat up to about 160° F in just a few
minutes. It can kill half of the roots inside the container facing the sun.
would water it twice each day; once in the morning before it gets hot and the
second time in the afternoon. Don’t let direct sunlight directly on the
container. The surface temperature will heat up to about 160° F in just a few
minutes. It can kill half of the roots inside the container facing the sun.
Get a second container the same size
and put some large rocks in the bottom and put the containerized plant inside
of it. It’s called double potting. That will help keep the heat off it.
and put some large rocks in the bottom and put the containerized plant inside
of it. It’s called double potting. That will help keep the heat off it.
Thank you for reminding everybody that FALL is the best time to plant trees. People who move here from other parts of the country (which is just about everybody) almost always arrive with the "plant in spring" mindset. I have received many disbelieving looks when I let them know that trees and shrubs will grow bigger and stronger if planted in the fall (with protection from winter freeze, if necessary).
Yes, since the plant essentially gets two "springs" (Fall and Spring) for one!