CHARLOTTE – North Carolina is a great place to live if you like having four full seasons and enjoying a full traditional fall as one – Cooling temperatures, beautiful fall colors, and a good 3 to 4 months to work your fall planting projects.

For trees and shrubs, planting in the fall is ideal. It is the perfect time to establish a tree-lined street or yard that will be filled with beautiful redbuds, flowering dogwoods or cherry trees in the coming spring,

As temperatures cool and rain showers increase, Mother Nature is preparing us for a transition from fall to winter. Installing trees and shrubs during this transition allows the roots to get established in warmer temperatures before the freeze sets in.

A well-laid foundation is a key to success for any project. When installing trees and shrubs, it is important to research the needs of your chosen plant to help it get off to a good start. Once it is installed, fall and winter rains will set in and allow your new tree or shrub to become well-established by spring. Spring rains will be the “wake-up call” that ushers in a season of glorious growth.

Slow growth patterns take over in fall, and fall plantings begin to go into dormancy as winter sets in. Watering plants as needed ensures well-insulated roots that will help maintain the well-being of the plant. There is no need for sprinklers or other watering devices, just an open hose is needed for a root drench at the mulch line.

Gardening in North Carolina is a four-season affair, and fall is the perfect time to incorporate new trees, shrubs, perennials and even the best time for a lawn makeover.