I've had some mixed reports of soil moisture from a few folks. Since Ike's rain came down (6" in a lot of our clients' yards!), many of you have plenty of water in the soil. Others may have had some runoff, or the water might not have penetrated the root ball in your tree. It would be great to head outside today and check that moisture level in the soil, just to see what yours is doing. If you have several new trees, please check at least half of them, since moisture levels and soil behavior can vary greatly within just a few feet. Most trees aren't using as much water now, as they were a few weeks ago, but if they're dry they'll still need a drink.

Autumn tree care tip: Roots will keep on growing until the soil temperature drops to 40F, which won't happen for a few weeks. So putting on some fertilizer for them is perfect for right now, and even for the next 10-20 days! Our favorite is fertliome's Root Stimulator. It has a nice, low-nitrogen formula with Vitamin B1, just right for setting up new roots in the first 2-3 years after a tree is transplanted.