Gardening Tips
In November, the trees in St. Francis County will be showing their beautiful Fall colors. Have you wanted to add some Fall colors to your yard but weren’t sure which trees to add? Here are a few tips.
• The scientists tell us that Fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs, giving the root system the winter to grow before the plant uses most of its energy to produce new branches and leaves. Trees and shrubs do best if they are native to the area in which they are planted. The temperature, soil, and amount of rainfall are important criteria to have healthy plants. If Fall is not your best time for planting trees, plant them in the Spring, but remember they must have adequate water to ensure their survival. Make sure you do not overwater them and watch for pests that love tender plants. The wise gardener will carefully read about each tree before planting to find out the height and width of the mature tree. Will it endanger anything else on the property when it is fully grown? Will the roots damage the house in years to come? Will it provide shade where you want full sun?
• Dogwood, ginkgo, maple, and oak trees all have beautiful Fall colors, so here are some more details about these trees to help you choose the perfect tree for your yard.
*Dogwood tree leaves turn a glossy red and have red berries that the bluebirds and other birds that don’t migrate love to eat. It blooms in the spring with beautiful white or pink blooms. Plant this tree in full sun to partial shade. It needs to be watered often when young, and it grows at a slow to moderate rate at 1-2 feet a year.
• The ginkgo tree is famous for its attractive shape and vibrant yellow foliage, and it does not need to be trimmed because it grows in a natural, beautifully rounded shape. Around the first week of November, the leaves turn yellow overnight, and when the leaves fall, they fall at the same time. It is a fast-growing tree, resistant to pests, and is drought-resistant when it is mature. Only plant the male ginkgo because the female has a messy fruit that has an unpleasant odor. Since not all plant nurseries carry the male ginkgo, you may need to ask for a special order or look for a ginkgo tree in a plant catalogue.
• The leaves of the maple tree with their vibrant hues of fiery red, electric orange, and calming yellow are a guaranteed show-stopper during the Fall. Autumn Blaze, Red Maple, Flashfire Maple, American Red Maple, and Flame Amur Maple have bright red leaves. Trumpet, Golden,
Fantasy, Quaking, and Armstrong Gold have bright yellow leaves. The Japanese Maple trees are outstanding in many colors and come in dwarf and shrub sizes. From Sugar Maples to Japanese Maples, the maple tree is the ideal way to add blazing Fall color to your landscape. Plant maple trees in an area that gets full to partial sun and has well-drained soil.
• Oak trees generally get their Fall foliage later in autumn than maple trees. Pin oak’s foliage can turn a deep red if conditions are right. They grow best with full sun and need acidic soil. They even tolerate wet soil. The scarlet oak tree has a moderately fast growth rate. It can tolerate poor soil. Its stunning Fall beauty is outstanding in the oak family. White oak leaves turn reddishbrown. They don’t like wet soil. Sawtooth oak leaves are golden brown and are fast-growing oaks when they are planted in rich, well-drained soil.
• There are a few trees that are not recommended to plant because they cause the gardener many problems. They are sweetgum, catalpa, spruce, Bradford pear, white oak, and Leyland cypress, to name a few.
• Fast-growing shrubs that should be planted in the Fall to give their roots a head start in growth are knock out roses, viburnum, forsythia, hydrangea, and spirea. Laurel bushes are a good choice to make a living privacy screen. Red twig dogwood will flower in the Spring, and in the autumnwinter after the leaves have fallen, the bright red branches will bring color to the chilly landscape. Pussy willow with its branches full of fuzzy catkins will liven up the low moist area in your yard. Nothing can beat the burning bush’s beautiful green leaves, and in the fallwinter, all the leaves turn a bright red; it is breath-taking when planted as a hedge.
*Now is the time to plant bulbs- tulips, hyacinths, crocuses, and daffodils. Buy the biggest, healthiest ones you can find. Start looking for the beautiful pansies and violas to add to the color throughout the fall, winter, and early Spring.
• November is another busy month for the gardener. Remember to take care of your Winter lawn and the Winter veggie garden. Stay healthy and enjoy the cooler weather.
For questions concerning your flower garden, vegetable garden, and lawn care call the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service office at the St. Francis County Courthouse at 870-261-1730
( EDITOR’S NOTE: Master Gardeners who write “Gardening Tips” gather information from gardening guides for planting in zones 7 & 8.)