For many gardeners the fall represents a time to rake leaves and perhaps a time to start a compost pile, but it is also a great time to plant before the snow sets in. Before the soil becomes so hard that you wouldn’t imagine picking up a spade or a shovel, think about planting a rhododendron or a cherry tree. Fall planting offers many advantages that spring and summer planting do not share. Fall provides an excellent opportunity for the plant to establish itself in the earth before it goes into a state of dormancy for the winter. Instead of focusing its energy on foliage growth, the roots of the plant develop in the warm soil even as the air cools down to freezing temperatures. When spring arrives, your plant will be better suited to endure the heat and sun.

For successful fall planting, a few rules hold true. Robert Eaton, co-owner of Bob’s Trees in Galway, advises that people stick with suitably hardy plants for this area. There are 11 hardiness zones in the United States. Each corresponds to a range of average low winter temperatures.

Trees and perennials have a suggested zone recommended for the plants to survive the cold. For this region, zone 4 plants are the tough enough to tolerate the winter. Avoid plants recommended for zones 5 and 6 and specifically avoid Red Maples, Japanese Maples and some Oaks. If you follow these basic rules, fall planting should be easy and relaxed.

It can be much easier to plant in the fall since fall planting does not require the careful attention necessary for spring and summer planting. Lower temperatures and steady rainfall make the fall a much less scary time to plant than summer. Though fall may appeal more than summer, spring still remains the most attractive and exciting time to plant. As Eaton says, “If I had preference to one particular month, it would be the second half of April to the first half of May.” According to Eaton, when it comes to planting, fall takes a close second to spring. While fall planting does not produce the excitement of the spring, it is a great time to plant for those who are patient and cautious. But don’t forget to water occasionally, especially if you live close to Saratoga Springs where the soil is sandy and retains water less easily than the soil in the Schenectady area.

In addition to all the advantages mentioned above, fall planting provides a great time to buy discounted plants left over from prior seasons at large homeowner stores. However, remember that a bargain is only as good as the product you are buying. If the plant looks unhealthy, it will have a difficult time surviving the winter, but if it looks healthy, planting it in the fall should not be a problem.

For more information, logon to the Bob’s Trees Web site, www.bobstrees.com. If you are thinking about planting this fall, take a trip to Bob’s Trees on Route 45 in Galway, where you will find a wide variety of trees and shrubs there, as well as sound advice from educated experts that understand this region and the plants that grow here.