That's so funny because all the shrubs get deeply discounted in the fall! Last year I couldn't resist getting a whole bunch of berry shrubs at 50% off in the fall. A few weeks later I found another nursery practically giving away plants and I bought a bunch more!
I've always planted my trees and bushes in the fall because that's the most wet period of the year and you don't need to water as much. Didn't know that 85% of the root growth happens during fall/winter, wow! Even more of a reason to plant in the fall, thanks for the info Stefan.
If you plant bare root trees in the fall be sure to stomp out any air pockets out of the planting hole. They can get pockets of water around the roots and freeze damaging the trees but agree fall is best time to plant. Very well explained video.
I hear ya. Unfortunately, the nurseries all release their catalogues over the winter, and if you want to plant in the fall, your options are extremely limited. Would love to see a nursery with a winter order for planting the next fall.
I planted two different sweet cherry trees in February and one is leaved out well and the other is just standing there with fat healthy looking buds, but no leaves yet. Craziest thing I ever saw.
As usual your way of explaining complex relationships for everyone to understand was delightful. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I am transforming my yard into a permaculture haven and YOU'RE a tremendous help! Especially for the fruit tree pruning 😊 You're the best!
Very simple but excellent way of explaining for average people. Please keep making more videos, it’s been long time since I waited for new videos. Thanks
Love how you described sugars as currency. It really is a shared currency of the natural world, isn't it? Cause like, not everyone necessarily needs it, but it's used to facilitate all functions. Making it ultimately necessary for all life. Really appreciate the lamens terms explanations. You made me go from "roots produce exudates and that somehow helps uptake of nutrients" to "Ohhh exudates are sugars that attract the microbes" It really made me understand that rather than just know about it.
Thank you for explaining things so simply. I really appreciate it. I bought your documentary and it arrived last week. It is so informative. You make it very easy to understand and take action on. I just finished pruning 12 apple trees, 5 pear trees, and a multigrafted plum. None of them have been very productive for me so far. But I'm hopeful that after pruning them they will improve. I gathered honey locust seeds from trees nearby, and we're waiting for them to germinate, after a hot water treatment. Thanks again for explaining things in a simple way that is easy to understand.
Oh man, I wish I could catch this show as it premiers, but I won't be at home at that time. I guess I will watch it afterwards. So nice to see another video upload. I hope you will make a walkabout for the spring! You can make it every day. I would not mind.
I love the explanation in this video! For potted trees i could see it being good to plant in fall, however for bareroot plants the roots are often trimmed for transport, which reduces their stored energy and adds stress. So planting them ASAP is still necessary so they can leaf out and begin producing energy.
Hi Stephan. ~ Thank you for another informative video! I’ve been waiting - like most subscribers - for your return! I am also grateful for you mentioning Sephano’s channel. He captures our Canadian birds and wildlife in an exceptional way! I watch a local biologist working diligently to save the Spirit Bear and bears in general here on the West Coast. All that to say…I was overjoyed to discover Sephano’s channel via your suggestion! It was very gracious of you to share and encourage us to support our fellow Canadians - from coast to coast to coast. May you and your family have a wonderful Spring! Many blessings🇨🇦😌🇨🇦
Love the way you explain complex topics and the comparison between humans and plants. Thanks for the new video. Hope the ice storm and winter was gentle for you!
I was definitely not prepared for the reason why poop is brown in a video titled "Spring is not the best time to plant trees and shrubs" haha. But appreciate your insight.
If only when I ordered bare root trees they'd arrive in the fall. Instead I have to order them in the fall to arrive in February or March. But if I have to move a tree or repot one, I'll remember to do it right after the leaves fall in the fall. Thanks for the video.
That’s great information! I’ve noticed that any shrub or tree that I planted in the spring doesn’t grow much the first year. Unfortunately most suppliers around me sell most of their seedlings in the spring. Thanks for sharing!
I agree with this advice in cooler areas having grown many trees there. However, in this new warmer area I'm now in, certain trees don't get set back at all and power on in hot weather.. Of course, it's possible to mitigate hot weather with temporary shading. But a lot of deciduous trees definitely like to be planted during dormancy IMHO
Now I understand why the dandelion root coffee I made today wasn't as sweet as I was hoping -- the dandelions have spent too much of their currency already. Thanks for your clear explanation.
Dandelion root for herbal purposes is always obtained in autumn, for the reasons discussed above. In turn, leaves for salads, flowers for e.g. syrup, spring.
True but most fruit trees are clipped when you buy them in autumn, so if you take care of your spring planted tree in summer, you'll take half a year advance by autumn with much more energy to store into the roots. I say it's better to put trees in the ground than have them in pots all summer and eventually sold.
I’m so afraid to plant my fruit trees in fall because of the harsh winter here in zone 4 in Montana, but actually I really I don’t know when is fall here because after summer finish we start winter🤷🏻♀️
Great video! One of my favorites of yours. I love all the science that you brought, and it's all 100% bang on. Fantastic. One other small thing to mention, in colder climates, planting in the spring means you are a little bit further away from our death season, which is the winter. So for really cold climates, I think this factor slightly offsets the things discussed in this video, and makes spring planting a little more attractive. It's still best in the fall though. However, in warmer climates, where the season-of-death is the summer (the season that will kill most of your trees), then absolutely, it's not even close, it's fall and ONLY fall.
Wondering if you will do an episode about espalier, or could recommend one. I work in urban areas and am finding espalier fits well, and am installing guild plantings. Also, different pruning techniques, for example, between a Monty's Surprise and a Pristine apple varieties. I bought your video, and have also been watching your suggestion of the Soil Science Masterclass by Elaine Ingham. I wish the varieties of trees I want to plant were not sold out by March, in some cases, because I would prefer autumn planting. Thank you for sharing information, it's much appreciated!
@lynnsorensen503 Gosh, plant that mulberry! They are so vigorous. Not sure where you are, but unless you are in the desert go for it. Just keep it watered 1-4 times a weeks for about 6 weeks. Depends on size of plant, amount of roots, rainfall, heat. You are going to have to water it in that pot roughly the same but in the ground it will be getting established.
@@RichardGilbert2727 ok! I will plant the mulberry 😊 I’m in inland Mendocino county CA & should have a little more rain before the dry months kick in. Thanks
Very informative video , thank you! Your videos were already good, and it seems the filming on this one has also increase! I noticed a difference probably due to a steady cam. Good job! :)
@@fabricantdarbres it means a lot haha thank you! I’ve put in just over 2 and a half years into his new Master Class. I wouldn’t say I’ve mastered editing yet but I’ve definitely improved
Right after leaf fall is also the best time to innoculate shiitake logs. I am learning the hard way about it with about 50 logs that aren't producing much of anything and will have to go an extra nine months to fully innoculate. If they innoculate at all.
@@StefanSobkowiak Well, a handbook I got from my supplier suggests I get them in as soon as I can. I am in the upper South US and fungus stays active in nature just about year around so I have to beat nature trying to innoculate them with mainly Turkey tail . I cut everything in mid to late April with this batch not working well. A previous year-batch I did in early March is still working fine. These never turned white on the ends very much, as of yet, so I am hoping they will by next fall. A small batch I did the same day of cutting the logs last November are already well whited telling me that was the best approach, but I won't make them fruit until next September. Thank you for responding! 😊
Nobody ships in fall anymore! Do you know of tree nurseries that sell/ship in fall? Looking to permaculture a fruit, nut and N2 fixing tree orchard in ME! Sound familiar? LOVE YOUR SHOW
I like planting my fruit trees while in dormancy. I want them to start wake up already in their spot. I noticed when I was a newbie I planted 2 trees in summer and both got bad leaf spots and frog eye fungus. I was a newbie 2 years ago. But last year they recovered and didn't get any fungus or spots. They were strong. When I put them in the ground in summer, they were stressed & even disease resistant trees will get diseases from stress and being weak. The plants I planted in winter are incredible. I can see the difference.
Live in northeast PA and plant tree in the fall and spring so far spring planting has been far more successful. About a third of trees planted in the fall didn't make it but luckily all my spring trees have survived and thrived. Though I did have a harsh fall/winter the years I planted and a mild warm spring so weather has a big part to play. My sister who lives in central NY has also had more success planting in the spring. Anecdotal I know.
Very curious, I have been thinking that planting in spring might be tough on the root formation and planting late summer or fall might actually be better for root formation. But that’s just guessing. 🤔🧐
Well the ArborDay Foundation only ships in the spring 2 zone 6. I just now finished planting a plum tree and a red maple that arrived today from the arbor tree Foundation
Your plan makes sense, except when it comes to bare root trees and shrubs. There are no leaves to drop or sugars to store yet. They need to be spring planted. So it seems your preference is not to get bare root plants. To bad they tend to be the easiest to find, cheapest, and generally easier to plant.
@@StefanSobkowiak I love planting in the Fall in Wisconsin, but the big bare root suppliers only sell in Spring, so we have to, and the prices are phenomenal. I've had great results, but watering is an issue when dry.
Stephan, I've been using the whey spray you recommended to protect my tomatoes from blight. I'm curious if you think the same whey application might also protect my orchard from brown rot. I don't want to spray copper, are there any alternatives?
I'd be interested in the answer to this too. Am suffering black rot on vines that seems to be spreading to other trees too. Have been avoiding poisons, opting for h202 / colloidal silver / neem oils but I'm not seeing much success yet.
Look up JADAMs farming recipe for water soluble liquid sulfur that breaks down into nutrients after serving its purpose. You definitely do not want to spray the trees/vines/veggies while pollinators are out which is pretty easy to avoid. You can also use it in late fall while trees are dormant as an overwinter protection spray. It is usually applied with a potassium based liquid soap that functions as a spreader, insecticide and nutrient which can be home made as well using JADAMs recipe.
Làst year was the first year i realize if you want to creatate a Permaculture orchard i had to start putting my orders to the nurseries in fall/beginning of the year if you want any choice at all of trees and scrubs. And if you like me after years of picking from the left over stock the next problem is the orders coming all at the same time. The best time to buy is in the fall since I visit the nurseries looking for bargains there were all the left over 50% off sorry looking plants and trees i bought that have started to grow.
I wish i coiuld plant in fall. All the trees/shrubs I order ship in spring and the varieties I want for my area I can never seem to find available for fall delivery. It bites me in the backside frequently, always 1 or 2 bare roots that never wake up no what effort amd care I put into the planting or after planting care.
I got 3 Bare root Chinese Chestnut trees last mid May, put them in 7 gal pots all summer & will plant then in October.....I hope they all make it....wanted to also plant 4-5 Asian Persimmons but might wait till spring of 25..? not sure....
I'm not sold on the sugar in the roots for the winter, maybe it has a higher concentration there but how much higher? There is no storage tank or balloon to fill. Maple sap for syrup or birch sap for syrup is throughout the tree to my understanding and comes out from pressure from all side created by heat. Can you please clarify with another video? Thanks.
I have worked in a nursery for the better part of a decade. When people return their dead plants we ask or look up when they got those plants and the vast majority of deaths was from the previous fall, specifically early fall. my guess is that the plant gets in the ground and starts pushing out all those new roots when it should really be slowing down and hardening off and then the winter comes and it shocks the system. any thoughts?
Usually for the plant to start pushing out new growth it got a dose of fertilizer. Never a recommended practice to fertilize in late summer or fall exactly to avoid causing new growth.
Do you have a source for 85% of roots growing in dormancy? My understanding is that late spring and summer is the time they grow most because temperatures are warmer.
Very interesting . Whats your thoughts about this net zero Co2 concept.? We we taught at school that plants need Co2 to make oxygen ? so how will they do this without Co2 in the atmosphere.?
Net Zero does not mean bringing CO2 to Zero level it's more about producing a product where your footprint (amount of CO2 emitted is countered with some other practice which absorbs CO2 which in the end is equal to zero (NET Zero)). We will never go to zero co2 in the atmosphere or we're all done for.
Hey Stefan, have you heard of syntropic agriculture? It's more of a tropical system. But I was curious if you knew anyone who was doing it in a temperate climate or maybe that's something you would like to experiment with in the future.
Yes a great system. There are several trials in temperate. A good example is from Byron in New Zealand, 2 year old planting. Ernst did a course in Portugal 2 or 3 years ago, i have not seen follow up on it. I will see how other's projects go before trying.
Sounds good. It reminds me of what you said in your presentation for verge permaculture when you grew the zucchini and did chickens in the paths when the trees were small
The issue is finding someone who sells this stuff in the fall. The trees and shrubs are marketed in the spring. Can you tell us where to purchase these items for the fall?
I've seen advice saying both to plant in the spring and not to plant trees in the spring in the same book... I just know any trees I've planted past spring about when they bud out they don't survive my winter.
Oh no! I ordered bare root trees and shrubs for June 1st. I shouldve watched your video before. I wish i knew! Now its too late to cancel. Last frost date in my area is may 29th alberta zone 3b. Maybe it will be ok, not sure.
@@StefanSobkowiak Thank you! I greatly appreciate how you explained this info! So this is very easy to understand when digging up a plant and moving it to another location on my own property. Do you feel like fall is also the best time to plant bare root plants, shipped from another location? Because I am very interested in growing plants to ship bare root and am trying to figure out the details for best success! Also do you mind if I add the link to this video in my blog to help educate others?
@StefanSobkowiak i have an 18 inch tall colorado blue spruce that i just bought in a nursery pot. it got delivered a week ago, im just trying to figure out exactly where to plant it
I wish I could do that. I tried it once and the next day all the ants in the area (or so it seemd) were setting up camp and having breakfast lunch and dinner. The worst part was that they brought some scale with them. While the ants were easy to get rid of, it took me forever to get rid of that scale.
Carful not to over feed sugars as they can weaken the association between the plant and certain bacteria. If the bacteria doesn't need to work for the plant for their sugars they dont need to work for it at all, its okay as a bio stimulant but substituting the natural sugars continually will do more damage than good to the microbiology of the soil
Good explaining, but it's not the plants who figure out this. Obviously the most credible explanation for all these wonders is that someone created this all. Even from the scientist prospect if we are truly honest to ourselves. This all can't just happen by itself.