Autumn Planting and Care for Saplings

Autumn is the ideal time for planting most tree saplings, shrubs, perennial flowers, and bulbous crops, as it allows plants to adapt to new conditions before the active growth period begins in spring.

Unlike spring planting, when a plant must expend energy on rooting while simultaneously developing leaves, the autumn period allows it to focus solely on forming a robust root system. The warm soil and moderate autumn rains create optimal conditions for this process. Proper planting requires careful soil preparation, the incorporation of organic fertilizers or compost into the planting hole, and ensuring sufficient depth so that the root collar is neither buried nor excessively exposed.

Particular attention must be paid to protecting the root system if you have soil pests in your area, such as chafer grubs (May beetle larvae), mole crickets, nematodes, or wireworms. These pests will gladly feast on the roots of a young sapling and negate all your efforts.

Protecting Sapling Root Systems

A wide range of products is used to protect against soil pests and diseases, with the main groups being chemical compounds and biological preparations.

We recommend using the biological soil treatments MetaRiz™ and Nematocide in the autumn.

• MetaRiz™ contains a combination of spores from the fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Trichoderma harzianum. The Metarhizium protects the root system from chafer grubs, mole crickets, and wireworms, while the Trichoderma colonizes the root zone and suppresses diseases such as Phytophthora root collar rot, other rots, and many more.

• Nematocid contains spores of the bacteria Bacillus firmus and Bacillus pumilus, which actively destroy almost all types of nematodes. In the course of their life cycle, these bacteria also release biologically active substances that have a secondary fungicidal effect.

How and When to Apply the Products?

Biological soil treatments are applied in the autumn and spring. MetaRiz™ and Nematocid are compatible and can be used simultaneously. To do this, you must:

1. Dilute 10g of each product in 10L of non-chlorinated water.

2. Soak the sapling's root system in the working solution for 1–2 minutes.

3. Pour the remaining solution into the planting hole, using 5–10L per hole.

4. Once the sapling is planted, water it with an additional 10L of clean water.

If you already have established trees, shrubs, or other plants and have a problem with soil pests, the algorithm is as follows:

1. Dilute 10g of each product in 10L of non-chlorinated water.

2. Pour 5–10L of the solution around the plant using a watering can.

3. Water with an additional 10L to help the bacteria and fungi "migrate" deeper into the soil.

4. We recommend covering the area around the trunk with mulch to protect the microorganisms from UV light and better preserve moisture.

In this way, you are colonizing the root zone with beneficial fungi and bacteria that will protect the roots from pests and diseases.

IMPORTANT! For maximum effectiveness, annual application of the products in autumn and spring is recommended. While the colonized microorganisms do not disappear, their concentration decreases over time and needs to be maintained. The effectiveness of the treatment is also directly affected by the presence of soil moisture. If you plant saplings and a dry autumn follows, you must periodically water the plants.

Key Aspects of Autumn Sapling Care

Key autumn care for newly planted and existing plants focuses on ensuring their winter hardiness and overall health. The first and most critical step after planting is abundant watering, which helps the soil settle firmly around the roots and displaces air pockets.

Next, you must ensure the plants receive the correct nutrition: avoid nitrogen fertilizers, which stimulate shoot growth, and instead use phosphorus-potassium complexes. These strengthen cell walls, increasing resistance to low temperatures.

Before the first hard frosts, it is also essential to apply mulch around the base of the plant using organic materials (bark, straw, compost). This protects the roots from sharp temperature fluctuations, retains moisture, and prevents weed growth in the spring. Young, frost-sensitive plants may require additional covering with agrotextile or other insulating materials.

It is crucial to complete planting 3–4 weeks before the expected consistent frosts so the roots have time to establish.