Fall kicks off with the autumn equinox in late September. The change in leaf colors marks the end of the growing season, but it’s actually a prime time to plant trees and shrubs in your yard. When you pick the right spot and install them in Autumn, trees and shrubs tend to thrive better than those planted in spring. This is because they get a head start on establishing their roots before summer heat kicks in, which can stress out younger plants by sucking up moisture.

Ideally, you want to start planting trees and shrubs about six weeks before the first hard frost appears—so think roughly from September through November. This timing helps roots settle in nicely before winter arrives and the ground freezes.

“Fall is fabulous for most plants,” said Georgia gardening guru Walter Reeves, a retired University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agent and an author and radio and television show host.

“There are several reasons why it’s better to plant in fall,” he said. “The most important reason is soil temperature. Roots grow best when the soil is warm, between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.”

Fall-planted trees, shrubs or perennials get several weeks of vigorous root growth to be ready for winter and for years of healthy growth. However, if you plan to plant evergreens, Reeves says, get busy.

“Early fall is a great time to put in evergreens like Leyland Cypress and hollies,” he said. “It’s better to plant them early rather than late. Their foliage is tossed about by winter winds, and if they don’t have good root development, they get too dried out. If there’s a class of woody plants that needs planting early in fall rather than later, it’s the evergreens.”