Fall Planting and…weeds

Now is a fine time for planting. With potted plants and trees you are simply moving them into the ground from above ground. Soils this time of year are warm and roots will readily begin rooting out with adequate water. The term "transplanting" implies something different, where a plant that has been in the ground is dug up and moved to another location. Roots are severed and the plant is set back as a result. For this reason "transplanting" is generally more successful during times when the plant is dormant and not leafed out or in a growth stage.

We've enjoyed a nice growing season in Western Montana. I have some shrubs and perennials in my yard that grew five or six feet this year supplemented only with low-water-usage drip irrigation. Weeds have also had a banner year. It's imperative that one stays on top of them. They are easy to pull when young and can produce hundreds of seeds if allowed to grow until the seeds are viable. Right now the Rudbeckia and echinacea are the superstars of my garden although the ornamental onions, agastache and many others are showing off as well.

By Bill Caras