09/15/2026
Fall is one of the best times to plant a tree in our region.
We’ve been sending Silver Maples and Eastern Redbuds out for local pickup, and the question we get most is: can I still plant this, or should it sit in the pot until spring?
The best advice we can give is:
1. Dig a hole wider than deep. The hole should be about twice as wide as the pot, and no deeper than the root ball. Planting too deep is how a healthy tree slowly fails.
2. Check the roots before it goes in. Slide it out of the pot. Tease apart any roots circling the bottom so they grow out, not around.
3. Set the flare at ground level. The spot where the trunk widens should sit even with the soil — not buried.
4. Backfill with the dirt you dug out. Don’t pack in a bag of “magic mix” that stays soggy. Water well as you fill so there aren’t air pockets.
5. Mulch like a donut, not a volcano. A couple inches out around the drip line. Keep mulch off the trunk.
6. Water once a week if we don’t get rain. Fall sun still dries a new tree out, especially in a windy yard.
Free local pickup, or $5 delivery to a Levittown address. See what’s available at thefigtreenursery.com.
What’s in your yard this fall — planting a tree, or waiting until spring?
