Fall Tree-Planting Guide

If you’ve ever dreamed of planting a tree, fall is the perfect time to make it happen. While the ground freezes in many other states, most Texas soils remain soft throughout the winter, giving newly planted trees a head start on root growth before the heat sets in. Courtney Blevins, a regional forester with the Texas A&M Forest Service, outlines the process of selecting the right tree, planting it correctly, and caring for it during its crucial early years.

What to Plant

Blevins recommends Texas A&M Forest Service’s Texas Tree Planting Guide, a helpful online tool for selecting the ideal tree for your space. Just select your county and input a few details about your planting location and tree preferences. Although many non-native trees often do well in Texas without becoming invasive, Blevins encourages choosing native trees, which are better adapted to our climate and soils and typically require less water and maintenance. Live oak is perhaps the most popular tree to buy or plant in Texas. Although it is susceptible to oak wilt, a serious vascular disease, it remains a hardy evergreen favorite. Other excellent native options include chinquapin oak, cedar elm, Texas redbud, and Shumard red oak.

Once you’ve purchased a sapling, be sure to inspect it once more before planting. If the roots have grown in big circles around the container (a condition called girdling), it could lead to problems down the road. If you suspect girdling, use a sharp knife or pruning shears to cut away the roots that have grown in a circle around the trunk, taking care not to cut into the trunk.

When to Plant

“Fall is definitely the best time to plant trees in Texas,” Blevins says. “That’s why we moved Arbor Day from spring to fall!”

Because most Texas soils don’t freeze, trees planted in the fall can begin growing roots right away and continue developing them throughout the winter. By the time spring arrives, they’re already better established and more resilient to heat and drought. “The best time to plant is late October or November,” Blevins says. “Next best is December.”

Where and How to Plant

One of the most common mistakes Blevins sees is planting trees too deep. Citing Edward Gilman, Ph.D., of the University of Florida, Blevins notes that this is one of the leading reasons young trees fail. “Most of the tree’s roots want to be close to the surface because that’s where the oxygen is,” Blevins explains. “If you plant it too deep, you’re gluing them down in areas with less oxygen.”

Blevins also advises against staking unless absolutely necessary, as staking can cause more harm than good. If your tree is the right size for its root ball, it usually shouldn’t need a stake. A healthy sapling should have a balanced ratio between the root system and top growth. If the root ball seems disproportionately small, the sapling may need more time to develop to support growth in the ground.

Caring for Your Sapling

Watering is essential during a tree’s first few years. Try to keep the root ball moist but not saturated. To determine how often to water, Blevins suggests using the finger test: Stick your finger in the soil, and if it feels dry, water. If it’s still damp, hold off. Blevins also recommends mulching under the tree rather than letting grass grow right up to the trunk, as grass can outcompete the tree’s roots for moisture and nutrients. “It gives the tree a head start,” Blevins says. “You don’t have to water as much, either, since it keeps the soil a little more moist.”

Finally, avoid pruning in the early years unless you’re removing broken branches or reducing competing trunks. “The whole key is getting the roots to grow, and if you prune off branches, you’re reducing or stunting root growth,” Blevins says. The hormone that promotes root growth is produced in the tips of the branches, and a tree’s food source is its leaves, so pruning reduces both root growth and the tree’s ability to make food.

Planting a tree is one of the best investments you can make, and making smart choices will set your new tree up for decades of shade, beauty, and healthy growth. Don’t wait too long; these next few months are prime planting time.

Just because your tree has grown strong and tall doesn’t mean it can always fend for itself. Consult our tree maintenance guide to keep them happy and healthy year-round.