When should you plant your trees?
One of the most important factors influencing the success and survival of newly planted trees is when they are planted. We allow customers to select their desired ship date when they checkout online. I hope the information below will help with deciding the best time to receive your trees.
When to plant
The first year after a tree is planted is a critical time, as adjusting to its new environment can stress the health of the tree. Transplant shock can stall growth or even kill new trees. There are many best practices to ease this transition, including selecting the right time of year to plant your new trees.
Summer
The container plants we sell can be planted throughout the year. I have experimented with late-Spring/ early-Summer planting with success. However, I would rank summer as my least favorite time to plant, especially if irrigation is not an option. An extended period without rain following a summer planting can lead to less than desirable survival rates. If at all possible, I would suggest not planting in the summer.
Fall
Fall is the most preferred time to plant trees in my opinion. When trees are planted in the fall, they will put on some root growth prior to going totally dormant in the winter. This sets the stage for trees to be more established the following spring, which will result in greater survival rates and increased growth in their first year. Here in middle Georgia, I aim to do the bulk of my tree planting in Mid-November.
For our customers in USDA plant hardiness zones 4-6, I recommend planting trees that are purchased from us at least 4-6 weeks before your first frost date in the fall. Our nursery is located in zone 8, so our trees experience a warmer climate than what they will need to acclimate to in northern zones. I suggest planting well before your first frost date so that our trees can gradually acclimate to cooler average temps prior to a hard frost.
Fall Frost Dates
USDA Plant hardiness Zone 4: October 1
Zone 5: October 13-21
Zone 6: October 17-31
Zone 7: October 29-November 15
Zone 8: November 7-28
Zone 9: November 25-December 13
Zone 10: December 15 - December 31
Winter
Winter is likely the most popular time to plant trees. While I think that fall planting is superior, planting trees that are totally dormant is a tried and true method that will yield great survival rates. Winter planting may not be an option in northern areas where ground freezing is possible. In these northern areas, trees should be planted after the ground thaws in the spring.
Spring
Spring planting is a great option, especially in northern climates that experience very cold winters and mild summers. The further south you go with hotter summers, the riskier that late spring planting becomes. Success in the deep south following a late spring planting will be dictated by rainfall.
In summation, I expect great than 90% survival on trees that I plant. Here in Georgia, I have experienced solid survival rates with fall, winter and early spring plantings. I prefer fall plantings due to the increased growth rate seen in the first year after planting when compared to winter and spring plantings.
Thank you!
Richey Burge