I
F YOU MISSED the spring
planting season, this is your
last chance to get trees in
this year. September through
November is good because a
freshly planted tree can put
its energy into growing roots
instead of foliage, and estab-
lish itself before winter. While
spring offers a better selection
of nursery stock, garden centers
and nurseries often have late-
season sales. You’ll be choosing
from the trees that may have been
containered most of the summer,
so look for one with healthy foli-
age. Be sure to get the planting
done before late fall, when trees
are largely dormant and won’t
spread roots; also, the ground
could freeze before the tree has a
chance to establish root growth.
But whether you’re planting a tree
in spring or fall, there’s still only
one way to do it right.STEP 1:CALL 811 AND AVOID
UTILITY LINES /Before you do
any deep digging or soil sampling,
dial 811. This national service
alerts local utility companies to
identify the location of under-
ground lines so you can avoid
hitting them while digging. Callat least three days before planting
to allow marking crews sufficient
time to visit the site.
If you’re in a development
with a homeowners association
(HOA), you may need to get per-
mission before planting a tree.
Also, they may manage the com-
munity’s irrigation system, which
will probably not be marked by the
public utility contractors. Con-
tact your HOA to find the location
of irrigation lines, which may bequite shallow. If your shovel hits
something hard, be sure it’s a
rock, not a plastic irrigation pipe.STEP 2:MATCH TREE SPECIES TO
PLANTING SITE /After the utility
marking is complete, take a soil
sample and send it to the nearest
land-grant university extension
office—every state has one. For
about $20 to $40, they will tell you
the nitrogen, phosphorus, potas-
sium, pH, and organic materialYour
Last
Chance
to Plant
a Tree
ROUND-POINT
SHOVEL +
BETTER FOR:
Digging in loose
ground, and
shoveling or
transferring dirt,
gravel, or sand.Digging or
shoveling?
Pick the
right tool
for the jobHome
// BY ROY BERENDSOHN //10
ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES (DIGGING); COURTESY (SHOVELS)30 September 2019