Can evergreens be planted in the fall?
Answer
In our area, conifers can be planted in early spring (March to May) and early fall (September to October). Try to plant your conifers on an overcast day when the tree will lose less water through transpiration (the evaporation of water from plants).
Broad-leaved evergreens -- such as hollies (Ilex spp.), southern magnolia (M. grandiflora), andromedas (Pieris), boxwoods (Buxus), rhododendron, including azaleas, cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), mahonia, skimmia --should be planted in the spring, not the fall. The larger leaf surface makes these plants more vulnerable to winter desiccation if the roots are not well-established by the time the ground freezes.
- Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information Service
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