If you’re planning to plant or transplant a tree or shrub, it’s best to do it in the next month or so to avoid the heat and drought of summer.

“Give them time to get settled in while it’s still relatively cool,” said Sharon Yiesla, plant knowledge specialist at the Plant Clinic of The Morton Arboretum in Lisle.

Planting in summer has extra risks because the heat makes soil and plants dry out faster. As the temperature rises, water evaporates more quickly.

“New plants will always need watering on a regular basis to make sure the soil stays moist around their roots,” Yiesla said. The hotter it gets, the more often you need to check the soil moisture to see if it’s time to water around a new tree or shrub.

Plants are mostly water, and they need a steady, reliable water supply to survive.

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