When to Plant Trees
Timing your tree planting right gives roots the best chance to settle in before heat, drought, or hard freezes arrive. Container-grown and fiber pot trees can be planted across a wider window than bare-root stock, but season and region still make a real difference in how quickly your tree establishes and how much supplemental watering it needs in year one.
Fall Planting - Often the Best Window
Fall is the preferred planting season across most of the United States, and for good reason. Air temperatures are cooling, which reduces stress on the tree above ground. But soil temperatures stay warm well into autumn - often through October and into November across much of the country - and warm soil is exactly what roots need to grow and anchor before winter.
A tree planted in September or October has 6 to 10 weeks of root growth before the ground freezes. That head start translates directly into better drought tolerance and faster top growth the following spring.
Fall planting works well across zones 5 through 9. In colder zones - Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, and northern New England - aim to plant at least 6 weeks before your average first hard freeze to give roots time to settle before the ground locks up.
Spring Planting - The Second Best Option
Spring is the most popular planting season, and it works well when timed correctly. The goal is to get trees in the ground after the last frost date but before summer heat arrives and starts pulling moisture out of newly planted root balls faster than they can absorb it.
In most of the country, this window runs from mid-March through May. In the Deep South, it opens earlier - February and March are ideal across Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. In the Upper Midwest and New England, wait until mid-April to early May to avoid late frost events that can stress new growth.
Spring-planted trees need more consistent watering through their first summer than fall-planted trees, since they have less time to establish before heat arrives. Plan on watering 2-3 times per week through June, July, and August if rainfall is below average.
Summer Planting - Proceed with Caution
Summer planting is possible but demands more from both the tree and the gardener. Heat and dry conditions stress newly planted trees harder than any other season, and establishment takes longer when soil moisture is inconsistent.
If you need to plant in summer, choose a cooler stretch in the forecast, water deeply every 2-3 days for the first 8 weeks, and mulch heavily to retain soil moisture. Avoid planting during heat waves or drought conditions if you can wait even a few weeks.
Summer planting works better in the Pacific Northwest and higher elevations of the Mountain West, where summer temperatures are more moderate. It is hardest in the Southeast, Southwest, and across the Great Plains.
Winter Planting - Region Dependent
In mild-winter climates - coastal California, the Pacific Northwest, the Gulf Coast, and much of the South - winter planting is not only possible but often ideal. Soil stays workable, temperatures are cool, and rainfall does much of the watering work for you.
In areas with frozen ground - the Upper Midwest, New England, and most of the Mountain West - winter planting is not practical. Wait for soil to thaw and drain before putting a new tree in the ground.
Quick Reference by Region
- Northeast and New England: Mid-April through May, or September through October
- Mid-Atlantic and Southeast: March through April, or October through November
- Deep South: February through March, or October through December
- Midwest and Great Plains: April through May, or late September through October
- Mountain West: May through June, or late August through September
- Pacific Northwest: October through March - the long mild-winter planting season
- California and Southwest: October through February in mild areas; spring in higher elevations
When Fresh Garden Living Ships
Fresh Garden Living ships trees year-round. Trees shipped in winter may be dormant or partially dormant depending on the weather and your region - this is completely normal and not a sign that anything is wrong. Dormant trees have simply gone to sleep for the season. Once planted and spring arrives, they will break dormancy and begin growing on their own schedule.
If your tree arrives dormant, plant it as soon as the ground is workable, water it in well, and give it time. If you have questions about what to expect from your specific order, reach out before or after it arrives and we will walk you through it.
Related Guides
- How to Plant a Tree
- How Often to Water a Newly Planted Tree
- How to Protect Trees in Winter
- Back to Trees Planting & Care Guide