Fall is the Perfect Time to Plant Trees

As the crispness of fall subtly begins, it’s the ideal season for planning to plant most deciduous trees and shrubs after the leaves drop. At Grelen Nursery, we’re passionate about helping you choose the best trees to thrive in your landscape. With over 300 varieties of hardy deciduous trees, we offer a wide selection to meet your gardening needs. Here's why autumn is the best time to plant and a guide to our top tree varieties, categorized to suit every landscape.

Why Fall is the Best Time to Plant Trees

The ideal time to plant deciduous trees is during their dormant period in late fall and winter. During this time, the tree focuses on developing its root system rather than growing leaves, leading to stronger roots and better health for the following year.

Now is the perfect moment to choose your trees and schedule planting. Our Plant Expert team is ready to assist you in selecting the right trees for your landscape. Here are their top recommendations to help you get started planning your yard landscape according to tree type.

Selecting Your Trees

When selecting trees for planting, it's crucial to consider your long-term goals and the specific needs of the tree. Think about the tree's full-grown size and how it will fit into your landscape over time. Consider its year-round features, such as blossoming patterns, foliage color, and seasonal changes, to ensure it complements your garden throughout the year. Additionally, evaluate the amount of light your planting area receives—whether it’s full sun, partial shade, or full shade—so you can choose a tree that thrives in those conditions. Finally, if you want to add unique visual interest to your garden, look for trees with distinctive shapes or features. Taking these factors into account will help you choose a tree that will enhance your landscape and meet your long-term planting goals.

Why Plant Shade Trees

Planting shade trees offers numerous benefits for your landscape and well-being. These trees act as natural air conditioners by providing cooling shade during the hot summer months, which can reduce the temperature of your outdoor spaces and even lower your energy bills. In winter, their bare branches allow sunlight to filter through, helping to warm your home. Additionally, shade trees contribute to cooling the air by releasing moisture from their leaves, making the air under the tree feel cooler and more comfortable. This combination of cooling and warming effects makes shade trees a valuable addition to any garden or yard.

Shade trees to Plant in the Fall Available at Grelen Nursery

- Legacy Sugar Maples (Acer saccharum 'Legacy') 

- Red Sunset Maples (Acer rubrum 'Red Sunset') 

- Native Tulip Poplars (Liriodendron tulipifera) 

- Native Willow Oak (Quercus phellos) 

- Princeton Elm (Ulmus americana 'Princeton') 

- London Plane (Platanus acerifolia 'Exclamation')  

- Native Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) 

- Native American Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea)

Benefits of Planting Flowering Trees

Planting flowering trees offers numerous environmental and aesthetic benefits. One of the key advantages is their positive impact on air quality; flowering trees contribute to cleaner air by producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide, which helps mitigate the effects of air pollution. Additionally, these trees play a crucial role in supporting local ecosystems by attracting beneficial pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds. These pollinators are essential for the health of many plants and crops, contributing to biodiversity and the overall vitality of the environment. Beyond their ecological benefits, flowering trees also enhance the beauty of your landscape with their vibrant blooms, adding seasonal interest and color to your garden throughout the year.

Flowering trees to Plant in the Fall Available at Grelen Nursery

- Native flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) 

- Native white Redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Alba) 

- Native burgundy Redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Merlot')

- Flowering Cherry (Prunus 'Yoshino') 

- Ornamental flowering Crabapple (Malus 'Spring Snow' 

- White flowering Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia x 'Natchez') 

Adding Specimen Trees to Your Landscape

Specimen trees have the power to elevate your landscape design to a new level of sophistication. When strategically placed, a specimen tree can transform an ordinary garden into a stunning visual masterpiece. Its unique form and grandeur not only enhance the overall aesthetic of your outdoor space but also create a striking focal point that contrasts and complements the surrounding plants. By introducing such a tree, you bring added depth and interest to your garden, turning it into a captivating work of art.

Specimen trees to Plant in the Fall Available at Grelen Nursery

- Japanese Snowbell (Styrax japonicus) 

- Flowering Stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia) 

- Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica)

- Silver Linden (Tilia tomentosa 'Sterling')

- Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum) 

- Burgundy Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood') 

- Trident Maple (Acer buergerianum) 

Are you looking for a specific tree or shrub?  Do you want a tour of the larger plant material in the Nursery?  If you have plant questions, are planning a small landscape project, and/or are looking for larger balled & burlap plant material, we suggest you contact The Market at Grelen's Plant Sales Manager, Darren Marsh. Darren works for both Grelen Nursery & The Market at Grelen and can handle almost any plant question.   For larger, more complex landscape projects, please contact Grelen Nursery directly to make an appointment (540.672.5462). Please note: we do not have Landscape Designers on staff, but are happy to provide recommendations.  Book an Appointment

Darren Marsh, Plant Manager

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