Every spring, garden centers fill with shoppers loading young trees onto trailers and into pickup trucks. It makes sense. The weather is warming, everything is turning green, and planting season feels like it has arrived.

But ask an arborist or Extension horticulturist when they would rather plant a tree, and you’ll probably hear a different answer.

Fall.

It may seem backward at first, but in North Texas and central Oklahoma, the months between late September and early winter are widely considered the best time of year to plant most trees. While the leaves above ground may be preparing for winter, something much more important is happening below the surface. Roots continue to grow long after top growth has slowed, allowing a young tree to establish itself before the demands of another hot summer arrive.

That’s a tremendous advantage in a region where summer temperatures routinely climb into the 90s and beyond.

A newly planted tree has one job: grow roots. Unfortunately, when it’s planted in the spring, it has only a short window before it must also support a flush of new leaves while enduring months of heat, drying winds, and occasional drought. That combination can place significant stress on a young tree before its root system has had time to spread into the surrounding soil.

A fall-planted tree has a much easier assignment.

As air temperatures cool, the soil often remains surprisingly warm for weeks. Those conditions encourage continued root growth without requiring the tree to produce new leaves or long shoots. Instead of dividing its energy between growing above and below ground, the tree can devote much of its effort to establishing a healthy root system. By the time spring arrives, it is already settled into its new home and better prepared to handle warmer weather. Research and recommendations from both Oklahoma State University Extension and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension consistently support fall as an ideal planting season for many landscape trees in this region.

That doesn’t mean you can simply dig a hole and walk away.

Choosing the right location is just as important as choosing the right tree. Consider the mature height and spread, not the size of the sapling you’re bringing home. A small oak, pecan, or cedar elm may fit comfortably today, but in a few decades it could tower over a house or interfere with utility lines if planted without planning. Likewise, trees that naturally prefer moist soils may struggle in dry, exposed locations, while drought-tolerant native species often require far less maintenance once established.

When it’s time to plant, dig a hole two to three times wider than the root ball, but no deeper. One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is planting too deeply. The point where the trunk begins to flare into the roots should remain at or just above the finished soil level. Burying that flare can lead to poor growth and long-term health problems.

Backfill with the native soil that came out of the hole rather than filling it with rich potting soil or heavy amendments. While it may seem like a kindness, surrounding the roots with dramatically different soil can actually discourage them from growing outward into the surrounding ground where they’ll ultimately need to survive.

Water thoroughly after planting, then continue watering deeply as needed during dry periods throughout the fall and winter. Even dormant trees require moisture while their roots continue to develop. A layer of mulch two to four inches deep around the base helps conserve soil moisture, regulate temperature, and reduce weed competition. Just remember to keep the mulch pulled back several inches from the trunk. The familiar “mulch volcano” piled against the bark may look tidy, but it can trap moisture, encourage decay, and attract insects.

If you’re unsure what to plant, consider species that are well adapted to the Southern Plains. Bur oak, chinkapin oak, cedar elm, shumard oak, bald cypress, Mexican plum, eastern redbud, and native pecan are all excellent choices in many parts of North Texas and central Oklahoma, depending on soil conditions and available space. Native trees generally tolerate local weather extremes better and provide valuable habitat for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.

Planting a tree is one of the few gardening projects that truly benefits future generations.

Long after this year’s tomatoes are forgotten and next season’s flowers have come and gone, that tree will still be growing. It may shade a porch, shelter wildlife, lower summer cooling costs, or become the backdrop for family photographs that haven’t even been taken yet.

Spring may get most of the attention, but fall quietly offers young trees their best opportunity to thrive. Give them a strong start now, and they’ll spend the years ahead returning the favor.

Most of us have heard kudzu called “the vine that ate the South.” It sounds a little dramatic until you see what it can do.

Kudzu does not politely climb a fence. It swallows it. It does not just grow beside a tree. It can cover the whole thing, blocking sunlight, weighing down limbs and eventually weakening or killing the plant underneath. Given enough time, kudzu can turn a fencerow, creek bank or roadside into a solid green blanket.

For North Texas landowners, kudzu may not be the first invasive plant that comes to mind. We tend to talk more about mesquite, thistles, Johnson grass, privet and other familiar headaches. But kudzu has been found in Texas, and it is enough of a concern that it is listed in invasive plant databases and regulated as a noxious plant. The Texas Department of Agriculture defines noxious and invasive plants as species with serious potential to cause economic or ecological harm to agriculture, horticulture, native plants, ecology and waterways.

Part of what makes kudzu so frustrating is its history. It was once promoted in the United States for erosion control and forage, and farmers were even encouraged to plant it in the 1930s and 1940s. By 1970, USDA had declared kudzu a noxious weed, and in 1997 it was listed as a federal noxious weed.

That is quite a change in reputation.

Kudzu, Pueraria montana var. lobata, is a fast-growing vine in the legume family. It has three-part leaves, often with lobes, and can produce purple, fragrant flowers in late summer followed by seed pods. Texas Invasives notes that the leaflets are generally hairy and several inches across.

The real problem is how fast it grows and how completely it can cover other plants. The Native Plant Society of Texas notes that kudzu may grow as much as 60 feet in a season and can expand at a rate of about a foot per day. It damages plants by smothering them, girdling woody stems and even breaking branches or uprooting trees and shrubs under its weight.

For a rancher or landowner, that can mean more than an ugly patch of vines. Kudzu can reduce usable land, cover fences, make access difficult, shade out native plants and damage wildlife habitat. Along waterways and creek bottoms, it can crowd out the native vegetation that helps stabilize soil and support birds, pollinators and other wildlife.

The best time to deal with kudzu is before it becomes a wall of green.

Small patches should be taken seriously. Do not mow once and assume it is handled. Kudzu stores energy in large root crowns, and those crowns are the key to control. Texas A&M AgriLife notes that to kill kudzu, the crown must be removed because it is the part that produces new sprouts.

Control usually takes persistence. Repeated mowing, grazing or cutting may weaken the plant over time, but it rarely solves the problem by itself. Herbicide treatment is often needed, and Texas Invasives lists repeated applications of triclopyr or glyphosate during the growing season as one control option. Large vines may also be cut and immediately treated on the cut surface. As with any herbicide, landowners should read and follow the label, avoid spraying before rain or during windy conditions and use products approved for the site, especially near water.

This is also one of those situations where asking for help early is smart. Local AgriLife Extension offices, county weed specialists, NRCS staff or invasive plant resources can help with identification and management options. If a landowner is not sure whether a vine is kudzu, getting a positive identification matters before beginning control work.

There are plenty of vines in North Texas, and not all of them are enemies. Native vines can provide food and cover for wildlife. But kudzu is different. It is aggressive, persistent and capable of changing the plant community around it.

The lesson is simple: do not wait until kudzu has covered the fence, climbed the trees and claimed the creek bank. If you see it, identify it. If it is kudzu, make a plan. Then keep after it.

Because the vine that ate the South does not need an invitation to start chewing on Texas, too.

In North Texas, we are used to watching for plenty of things on the road. Deer at dusk, cattle out after a storm, slow-moving tractors, potholes, washouts and the occasional armadillo that made a poor decision.

But this time of year, there is another traveler worth watching for: turtles.

After spring rains, during nesting season or when ponds, creeks and low-water areas begin to change, turtles may be on the move. They cross county roads, highways, driveways and pasture lanes for several reasons. Some are looking for nesting sites. Some are moving between water sources. Others may simply be following the same route they have used for years, long before the road was ever there.

For drivers, a turtle in the road may seem like a small thing. For the turtle, that crossing can be dangerous. Turtles are not built for speed, and even a quiet farm-to-market road can become a problem when traffic picks up.

Many of the turtles North Texans see are aquatic species, such as red-eared sliders, which are common across Texas. These are the turtles often seen lined up on logs or rocks near ponds and creeks, sliding into the water when approached. Other turtles, including box turtles, may be seen farther from water, especially after rain or during warm, active months.

When you see a turtle in the road, the first rule is simple: do not put yourself or anyone else in danger. If traffic is heavy, visibility is poor or there is no safe place to pull over, it is better to slow down and go around if you can. A good intention is not worth causing a wreck.

If it is safe to stop, pull completely off the road, turn on your hazard lights and watch for traffic before getting out. The safest approach is usually to move the turtle to the side of the road it was already heading toward. That part matters. If you turn it around or move it somewhere else entirely, the turtle may try to cross again.

Small turtles can usually be picked up gently by holding both sides of the shell. Keep your fingers away from the head and front legs, and carry the turtle low to the ground in case it kicks or startles you. Set it down a safe distance from the road, facing the same direction it was traveling.

Snapping turtles are a different matter. North Texas is home to common snapping turtles, and Texas also has alligator snapping turtles in parts of the state. These turtles have powerful jaws and long necks, and they should be handled with respect. Never pick up any turtle by the tail. It can injure the animal, and with a snapping turtle, it can put you in a bad position quickly.

If you are dealing with a large snapping turtle and do not feel comfortable helping it, the best choice may be to let it continue on its own while you stay safely away. If you can safely assist without handling it directly, you may be able to guide it across with a shovel, board or floor mat, but only if traffic conditions allow.

What you should not do is take the turtle home. A turtle in the road is not lost in the way we might think. It is likely trying to get somewhere specific. Relocating it to your pond, your yard or a “better” place miles away can do more harm than good. Turtles have home ranges, and moving them far from where they were found may leave them stressed, disoriented or more likely to die.

It is also worth remembering that wild turtles are not pets. They may look harmless, and some may be tempting for children to keep, but wild turtles belong in the wild. In Texas, there are rules regarding the collection and possession of native wildlife, and some turtle species have special protections. The simplest and best choice is to help them across when safe, then leave them where they belong.

If a turtle is injured, the answer is a little different. A cracked shell, obvious bleeding or a turtle that has been hit by a vehicle may need help from someone trained to handle wildlife. In that case, contact a permitted wildlife rehabilitator, local animal control office or Texas Parks and Wildlife for guidance.

For those of us who spend a lot of time driving North Texas backroads, watching for turtles is just another small way to be aware of the land around us. It does not take much effort to slow down, give one a little room or help it across when conditions are safe.

A turtle crossing the road may not be in a hurry, but it is on its way somewhere. Sometimes the best thing we can do is help it get there.