I’ve often been asked when is the best time to plant.  With the exception of seeding, fall is the optimum time to plant trees and shrubs.  In the fall, warm soil temperatures encourage root growth.   Roots will continue to grow through the winter until the ground freezes.  This allows fall plants to be better established in the spring where more moisture is needed as new growth develops.  In a spring planting, the soil temperatures are much cooler and root growth is much slower.  When new growth develops, the plant has a difficult time keeping up to the moisture demands of the plant.  Hence, transplant shock often occurs.  Also, fall has plenty of rainfall, cooler weather, and fewer pest and disease problems.   Remember “Fall is for planting”.