All gardeners in France and beyond know this popular saying: "On Saint Catherine's Day, all wood takes root!".
In the past, gardeners would take cuttings of dry wood (leafless twigs) during this time. As a child, I still remember my mother taking advantage of this famous day on 25th November to stick branches of currant and blackcurrant into the ground to propagate… successfully!
Over time, some things often fall into oblivion or become distorted. Indeed, the original saying has now generalised to all autumn plantings.
But is it a good or a bad idea to plant during this late period ? Let me explain everything!
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Why is it advised to plant at the end of November?
As autumn arrives, the days shorten and temperatures become cooler. Deciduous plants prepare to face the rigours of winter. The sap flows more slowly, they lose their leaves and enter dormancy. The dry stems may appear dead, but this is not the case; the plant is simply resting.
This period roughly extends from mid-November to March, depending on the regions.
It is therefore a suitable time for propagation by cuttings of dry wood. I won't elaborate on this topic, but this technique yields very good results. It is also during this time that it is customary to plant trees and bushes with bare roots. As I mentioned, they are in dormancy, so they do not experience the stress associated with being uprooted from the nursery. The quality of rooting and recovery is excellent if you take care with the planting.
Should everything be planted on Saint Catherine's Day, everywhere in France?
No! Planting all bushes solely based on a tradition, without considering the climate, is risky. Indeed, firstly, not all regions share the same climate, and secondly, not all plants have the same requirements or cold resistance!
To say that the most favourable time for planting woody plants is autumn is a bit of an oversimplification, in my opinion.
Here’s what seems more reasonable to me:
- Consider your climate: you don’t plant everything at the same time in the north and the south
Indeed, the end of November is the perfect time to plant all woody plants in Mediterranean regions, whether in Languedoc-Roussillon or Provence. Trees or bushes have a good chance of rooting well and will be able to face the summer without issue. It should also be noted that evergreens continue to grow and therefore root better during this period.
On the other hand, it may be a bit late to plant evergreen bushes in colder regions where frost and snow arrive early.
- Take into account the specificities of each bush
You will also need to consider the plants' requirements and their hardiness. A moderately or weakly hardy plant in a cold region will benefit from being planted in spring, in a sheltered and well-drained spot.
For example: The bay palm can be planted without issue on Saint Catherine's Day, everywhere in France. The Portuguese laurel or bay laurel will not pose a problem in the south. However, a late planting of the latter will be more delicate in the North and East due to wind, frost, etc. (unless the soil is well-drained and the plant is placed in a sheltered spot).
My experience as a gardener in the north-east of France has taught me that planting bare roots at the end of winter is more beneficial. The soil in my garden is clayey and remains wet (to say the least, waterlogged) throughout the bad season. At the end of winter, the soil begins to warm up, becoming lighter and more conducive to good root development.
In practice, when should I plant in my garden?
You will have understood that the best planting period is the one that suits your plant, in the specific location of your garden. Once this moment is determined, you will also need to consider the weather, which can vary significantly from year to year.
Keep this in mind:
You can plant your trees and bushes with bare roots when:
- the soil is moist at depth, but not waterlogged.
- the temperatures are not negative during the day.
- it is not raining (light drizzles do not count!)
You should not plant when:
- the soil is frozen. Leave the jackhammer where it is and wait for the thaw to plant!
- it is raining and the soil is soaked.
- the temperatures are freezing, it is freezing day and night.
In conclusion, I would say that an observant gardener is worth two: also look at what is happening around you, observe the signs of nature... The starting signal for planting is given by the falling of leaves and when the outside temperature has not exceeded 5 °C for several days. The end of planting trees and bushes with bare roots is determined by the awakening or swelling of the buds.
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