Fall is best time to plant a tree—Learn how to plant one on Sept. 15 in Warrenton

Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Fauquier County Master Gardeners are offering a program on “Tree Beginnings: Getting Young Trees Off to a Good Start” on Tuesday, September 15 from 6 - 7:30 pm in the Ruritan Shelter at Rady Park, 725 Fauquier Road, Warrenton.  The program includes a tree planting demonstration in the Rady Park Arboretum.

Tim Ohlwiler, Extension Agent for Horticulture for Fauquier and Rappahannock Counties, will be the presenter.  His presentation will cover:

• How to Select a Healthy Tree – Tim will share live examples of what to look for and what to avoid when selecting a new tree from a nursery or garden center.

• When is the Best Time to Plant – Early fall is ideal for planting new trees and shrubs, as the there is less stress on new plantings due to fall’s cooler temperatures, and ample time for tree roots to become established before the ground freezes in winter.

• Selecting the Right Tree for the Right Location – It is important to understand the needs and requirements of the tree – like sun vs. shade, dry vs. wet, heavy clay vs., sandy loam soil – so you select a site that will give your tree the best chance to thrive.  Don’t forget to consider how much space your tree will need as it matures.

• Best Planting Tips – Tim says as a general rule, trees should be planted no deeper than the soil in which they were originally grown.  The width of the hole should be at least 3 times the diameter of the root ball, container, or root spread to give the tree ample worked soil in which to establish its roots.

• Care and Maintenance – Tim will share proven care and maintenance practices to employ during the first several critical months that will get your young tree off to healthy start.

For the tree planting, the Fauquier Master Gardeners, who maintain the Rady Park Arboretum, have selected a spot in one of the beds that needs an addition. The spot is on a slope, facing east, gets sun from mid-morning to dusk, and has clay soil that is wet in winter and spring and dry in summer and fall. The Master Gardeners invite you to come to the program to find out which tree was selected and why, and to join them in planting this newest addition to the Rady Park Arboretum.

The Arboretum features more than 40 trees and shrubs located in 18 beds, all examples of native plants and non-native plants well adapted to the area.

The Arboretum nestles naturally into the landscape, winding past Rady Park’s picnic areas, its well-used playgrounds, soccer fields and jogging trails.  Its trees and shrubs provide color and horticultural interest throughout the year.  For visitors, each bed in the Arboretum is well marked with information on plantings and on-site brochures provide self- guided walking tours.  The Arboretum is a partnership between the Town of Warrenton, Fauquier County Department of Parks and Recreation, the Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Fauquier County Master Gardeners.

The “Tree Beginnings – Getting Young Trees Off to a Good Start” program is part of the Fauquier Master Gardeners’ Twilight Tuesdays program, a series of community programs on various gardening and horticultural topics taught by horticultural experts and Master Gardeners. 

The program is free of charge and open to the public.  To RSVP or for more information, please contact the Master Gardener Help Desk at 540-341-7950, Ext. 1 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).