I have some shrubs that are growing too close together. Is this a good time to move them? How about new plants?
Fall is a great time to move plants from one location to another and to install new plants in the landscape. The soil is still warm and the air temperatures are getting cooler. That is an excellent combination for getting the root systems of plants started growing in a new location. Planting in the fall gives plants time to establish their root systems before they make new top growth. I planted some shrubs late in the spring and they suffered badly with the unusually hot weather. They just did not have adequate root systems to provide for the rapidly growing top growth.
Leaves turning color or starting to fall is an indication that top growth has stopped and plants are going into dormancy. Root growth continues after top growth has stopped. The dormancy of deciduous plants also indicates that evergreens are going dormant too.
Even professional landscape designers and contractors make the mistake of placing young plants too close together and not allowing enough room for them when they reach maturity. It often means taking every other plant out before they lose their leaves where they overlap. It’s nice if you have another location to move them to.
