Since fall is right around the corner, it is now a perfect time to start thinking about fall plantings.  In eastern Iowa, the optimal time to plant a new tree is in the spring or fall.  Each type of tree will have different requirements based on the type of species that the plant is.  The optimal time to dig a field grown tree will also be dictated by the time of year for which you are digging the tree.  Some trees might experience shock if they are dug outside of their preferred time window.

After you have made your selection on what tree variety best suites your needs, you should contact your local nursery to set a side your tree for fall planting.  Some trees may not be grown locally and may require shipment from other nursery stocks.  Most local nurseries will let you tour their fields and tag the trees that you want.  This allows you to choose the right sized tree for your project as well as the most uniform tree.

Prepare your soil before you plant.

When preparing to install your tree, you should inspect the soil for proper growing conditions.  If your soil has too much clay or too much sand, it may be necessary to amend the soil with compost or black dirt.  When preparing your hole for installation, we recommend that you dig the hold twice the size of the tree root ball.  This allows room for back fill of dirt or compost as well giving you adequate room for adjustment.

We recommend removing any tree bags prior to installation.  Grow bags will not allow the tree to root properly and will eventually cause the tree to die.  We recommend removing burlap bags as well, even if they are supposed to decompose on their own.  After you remove the tree bag or burlap, it may be necessary to break up the roots.  Trees grown in containers or grow bags may become root bound.  Root bound means that the roots grown in a ball instead of branching out into other soil areas.