2021 Fall Home

2021 Fall Home Improvement LINCOLN DAILY NEWS Sept. 23, 2021 Page 5 Fall planting trees and shrubs I f you want to add trees and shrubs to your landscape, fall is a great time to do it. The University of Illinois Extension site explains why fall planting works well, “Late summer and fall have the advantage of warm soil to encourage root growth. The shorter and cooler days also decrease the amounts of water lost through leaves (transpiration.)” Additionally, “reduced upper plant activity and warm soil give roots a good start. When growth resumes in the spring, there are enough roots to support the upper growth.” Like the Morton Arboretum Site says, the cooler temperatures of fall “are easier on the plants so there is less chance for the trees to be stressed by extreme heat. Fall rains help the trees and shrubs establish their root systems.” Before deciding what to plant, do some research to find out which trees and shrubs work well in this area. The University of Illinois Extension is a good place to find this information. U of I Extension Educator Ryan Pankau says you should “seek out native alternatives.” These trees are “adapted to Illinois and offer huge wildlife benefits to many species in need of help such as our native pollinators.” Trees on this list include the white pine, red cedar, bald cypress, redbud and Washington Hawthorne. CONTINUED u