january planting in 8b

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garden140 Hightstown, NJ(Zone 6b) Oct 02, 2007

HI
My Dad lives in Louisiana, zone 8b. I will be down there for a week at the end of January. Can you plant trees i.e., dogwood and crepe myrtle at that time? I know that there was a blight that killed many dogwood trees. Are there resistant varieties available now? Thanks!

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Oct 02, 2007

That's not the best time to plant things, but as long as they're dormant it should be OK. I wouldn't plant anything that keeps its leaves over the winter though unless it's hardy to many zones colder than where he lives--I had a bunch of landscaping done last year, and because of delays a lot of stuff didn't get in the ground until mid-December, then in Jan we had some unusually cold weather and I lost a bunch of things that should have been hardy because they hadn't had time to get established before the cold. All the things I lost were evergreen though, I think something that's deciduous and goes dormant in the winter probably would have been OK.

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Redtootsiepop Livermore, CA(Zone 9b) Oct 09, 2007

I think January is way to cold, I'm in zone 8b as well and wouldn't plant during the winter.

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dhurst Scott, LA(Zone 8b) Oct 13, 2007

I'm in 8b in Louisiana. Crepe myrtles are pretty much indestructible here. (I have five.) They'll do just fine.

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Redtootsiepop Livermore, CA(Zone 9b) Oct 13, 2007

Well thats good to hear, I just put 4 tuscarora's in my parking strip - ty dhurst.

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geneivy Kyle, TX(Zone 8b) Oct 28, 2007

Look for the 'Whit' cultivars of crapemyrtle, there are 8, and 7 of these are in the 10 to 12 foot range and are beautiful. There are 2 that are true red and they are the most popular. The one called "Dynamite" is one of the best reds. Gene

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WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Oct 30, 2007

Most dogwoods lose there leaves for winter and then show off their lovely coloured stems like red, green, yellow etc before the new leaves come late spring, so if you buy the plants from the area you are planting them into, I would take the chance, NOT if you have frost on the ground though, it may get even colder and the frost penetrate deeper into the soil, ask advice in the local garden center as they will know IF your choice of plants can be planted then, I know I have planted trees in Jan/Feb as the soil has been wet but no frost, but Ecrane has the right idea, if in doubt. wait for another few weeks as even that can make a huge difference, good luck, hope your Dad likes his new planting scheme, he is so lucky his family want to help him out. best wishes. WeeNel.

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