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[Jwlehman@aol.com]

> Advantages of fall planting in zone 5:
>
> As the plant is dormant and has no moisture requirements they can be
> planted without using water (but if easily available watering is good).
> Just pulverize the soil and plant. The winter rains and snow melts will
> settle the soil around the roots. Do mulch about 6 inches to protect the
> roots from serious winter freeze damage as the frost goes deeper in soft
> soil. Keep the mulch away from the trunk to prevent rodent damage.
>
> The bigger advantage is the root system is in place for early spring
> root growth which is missed with most spring planting. Too often the
> soil is too wet for early spring planting, missing the early growth
> period. And transplanting after this growth period can damage the new
> tender roots.
>
> With spring planting a crack develops around the hole. The root ball is
> reduced in size by loss of moisture in summer heat. This is a crevasse
> the expanding root system can't cross. This open crevasse also allows
> moisture to escape increasing the water carrying requirements. When fall
> planted, the winter freezing and thawing and increased moisture settles

> the soil better which reduces and even eliminates this crack and as Barb
> wrote reduces the summer watering requirements. Moisture also escapes
> easier with loose soil.
>
> Under some conditions fall planting can literally add a years growth to
> the tree which can be missed with spring planting.
>
> Jerry
> Zone 5b
>