The Best Time to Plant Trees and Shrubs in your Tulsa Landscape

Have you wondered when the best time is to plant trees and shrubs in Tulsa? Fall, actually, is a great time to plant these beautiful landscape additions. Trees and shrubs can really bring a great deal of character and structure to your Tulsa landscape design. Planted in a row, they can help add privacy to your outdoor space and home and reduce noise. And, of course, they can provide shade during the hot summer months. They can also be used to reduce the energy costs inside your Tulsa home by implementing smart tree placement, as well as other green technologies such as green roofs and walls.

“If placed strategically, trees can reduce summertime cooling energy needs by 7-47 percent and wintertime heating needs by 2-8 percent,” the American Society of Landscape Architects reported.

Planting trees and shrubs in the fall, when the weather is getting cooler, will allow their root systems to grow and develop before winter sets in and before the heat of next summer.  Although the air temperature is cooler, the soil is still warm enough to encourage root growth.  Sometimes less watering is needed with wetter and cooler fall weather. With a stronger root system established, trees and shrubs will be better able to handle the drought and heat of summer.  However, be careful to not plant too late in the season when the ground is freezing as this could be damaging to the tree.

Fall is also a good time to plant trees because this is when they usually go into dormancy. When they are dormant, moving and handling them is easier on the tree. Choosing trees in the fall will help you see the various color possibilities for your landscape in the fall when the leaves change.

When choosing trees and shrubs to plant in your landscape, look for native species. Native trees and shrubs will require less maintenance and be more resistant to drought and disease. Because these plants are already adjusted to the climate, they will also usually need less water.

Before planting, research the tree or shrub’s growing height when it’s mature so as to know how far away to plant it from other trees and structures. Remember to plant the tree far enough away from power lines, houses, and other structures so that the mature foliage or roots do not interfere with any of these buildings or utilities. Planting them too close to these areas could pose a fire hazard. Also, before you dig, check with your local utility companies to see if there are any underground utility lines in your yard. Trees, themselves, should also not be planted too close together so that they do not have to compete for sunlight or their root systems do not crowd each other.

Trees and shrubs not only increase the beauty of your landscape, but can also increase your property’s curb appeal and value. The horticulturists and landscape designers at Tulsa’s Oklahoma Landscape can help you choose and plant the best trees and shrubs for your landscape as well as develop a custom care program for your landscape.