Rains have returned to most regions now, with some further along in re-wetting than others. This is a great relief, of course, as time is pressing to get the garden ready for winter and next year, and moist, softened soil is helpful.
Rain re-wets the soil stage by stage with the water moving down the soil with each rainy day, wetting a little bit deeper until the soil is fully soaked. With soil so dry after summer, this may well take two or more months, so don’t be surprised to find dry, dusty soil deeper down when planting bulbs and harvesting root vegetables.
If the soil is still dry at depth when planting trees or shrubs, fill the planting hole with water twice before planting. Water butts should be full enough by then to avoid having to use tap water in areas that may still be in drought.
Shorts
The soil is very warm and plants will have time to grow new roots for spring. Deciduous trees and shrubs are best planted after leaf-fall or thereabouts, which means October. Evergreen shrubs, however, are best planted now, once the ground is moist and soft enough.
