| Fall or winter time is a great time to think about | | | | secluded from oxygen and water. Internal |
| planting baby trees. Most trees survive better if | | | | dormancy is also referred to as embryo |
| they are planted or transplanted while they are | | | | dormancy. The embryo of the seed will stay |
| dormant. If you have baby trees, they may even | | | | dormant until it gets enough water, light, warmth |
| look dead during this time. A small scratch on the | | | | and/or oxygen. |
| bark of the tree should expose a green layer, | | | | If your baby tree is dormant and you are ready |
| reassuring you that the tree is, in fact, alive, but in | | | | to plant it, follow these simple guidelines to give it |
| a dormant state. | | | | the best chance at survival. |
| Trees enter a dormant state when the days | | | | 1. Dig a hole about twice as big as the tree roots. |
| shorten and sunlight is in short supply. They need | | | | 2. Stir up the soil around the sides of the hole so |
| to stop growing and producing during the fall in | | | | that the dirt is not packed tight. This will allow the |
| order to store energy and prepare themselves | | | | roots to spread more easily. |
| for winter. When you are taking care of your | | | | 3. Gently place the roots in the hole and carefully |
| baby tree, keep this in mind. Heavy watering or | | | | fill dirt around the delicate roots. |
| fertilizing during the fall can force a tree to stay in | | | | 4. Water the first layer of dirt so that it settles |
| its flourishing state and it will fail to prepare itself | | | | securely around the roots. |
| for winter. This can cause the tree to be | | | | 5. Add another layer of dirt, water to help it |
| intolerant of harsh conditions and die. | | | | settle, then repeat. |
| Once a tree is in its dormant state, it is fine to | | | | 6. Keep adding and watering until the dirt level |
| water it again to help it through the winter | | | | reaches one to two inches above the top root. |
| months. This is the best time to plant new trees | | | | 7. Form the soil into a well so that water drains |
| or move existing trees. If you are growing a tree | | | | toward the tree. |
| from a seed, then you will not see any growth in | | | | 8. Mix mulch in the top layer of soil to help water |
| the winter. This is because germination only | | | | retention. |
| occurs during the spring. That gives the new | | | | 9. Top off the area with mulch that expands one |
| seedling the best chance to survive the weather. | | | | to two feet away from the trunk. |
| Seeds can stay dormant for a very long time if | | | | 10.If snow is available, pack snow on top of the |
| the conditions are not right for germination. There | | | | mulch to insulate the tree from the elements. |
| are two types of dormancy in seeds; External | | | | If you are in a warmer climate, such as Texas, |
| dormancy and internal dormancy. External refers | | | | where trees may not be in a dormant state, you |
| to the seed coat or outer shell of the seed. This | | | | may want to contact an Arborist at Austin tree |
| type of dormancy is common in fruit seeds. The | | | | service for information on planting trees in your |
| hard external shell keeps the embryo inside | | | | area. |