The best time to plant trees is while they are dormant, with bare branches and closed buds. In warm zones 7 to 9, plant bare-root trees from late fall through winter. In colder zones 3 to 6, plant in early spring once the soil thaws. Plant on a cool, cloudy day, and soon after the box arrives.
TN Nursery is a third-generation family nursery in Altamont, Tennessee, growing native trees and plants since 1959. This site is our customer education site, and we ship most of our trees bare-root and dormant. That is no accident. A dormant tree is resting: its leaves have dropped, its buds are shut, and it is not trying to feed new growth. Bare-root means it travels with no soil or pot around the roots. A resting tree can lose some roots when it is dug, ride in a box and settle into new ground with far less shock than a tree in full leaf. So the best time to plant trees lines up with the dormant season, from late fall to early spring. The exact weeks depend on where you live. The guide below walks you through your zone, what to do if the box comes early, and how to pick a planting day. If you are still choosing, start with our best selling trees.
Best time to plant trees by zone
1. Find your USDA hardiness zone
Your hardiness zone is a number based on how cold your winters get. Lower numbers mean colder winters. Look up your zone with your ZIP code before you order, since it sets your planting window. Also check each tree's listing for its zones. The Pawpaw Tree and Eastern Redbud Tree both ship as dormant bare-root trees.
Tip: Zone 7 sits on the line: fall or early spring both work there.
2. Zones 7 to 9: plant late fall through winter
In warmer zones, the ground rarely freezes hard. Roots keep growing slowly in cool soil, even while the top of the tree rests. Plant from November through February on any day the soil is not frozen or soggy. That gives roots months to settle before summer heat. This is the season to set out a Red Maple Tree, a bundle of Red Maple - Acer Rubrum Seedlings, or a pawpaw in zones 7 and 8.
Tip: Water well after planting, then check the soil weekly if winter turns dry.
3. Zones 3 to 6: plant in early spring
Where winters are hard, plant bare-root trees in early spring. Wait until the soil thaws and crumbles in your hand, but plant before the buds open. Utah State University Extension advises planting bare-root trees in spring while they are still dormant. Fall planting can work in these zones for many trees, but it needs steady watering in dry spells. In most of these zones, that window falls between March and May.
Tip: Frozen or soggy soil can wait. Store the tree cool and damp until it is workable.
4. Box came early? Store it cool or heel it in
Plant as soon as you can. If the ground is frozen, keep the tree somewhere cool, near 40°F, like an unheated garage. Keep the roots damp, like a wrung-out sponge, says Iowa State University Extension. For a longer wait when the soil can be dug, heel it in: dig a shallow trench in shade, lay the tree at an angle, cover the roots with moist soil and water. Never let the roots dry out.
Tip: Heeling in means burying the roots for now, not planting for good.
5. Pick a cool, cloudy day to plant
Time of day matters less than season, but weather still helps. A cool, overcast day, or late afternoon, keeps sun and wind from drying bare roots while you work. Soak the roots in a bucket of water for one to two hours first. Keep them in the bucket until each hole is dug. Then plant, firm the soil and water deeply. Our bare-root tree planting guide covers each step.
Tip: Dig the hole before you take the tree out of storage.
Potted trees and seedling bundles
Potted trees keep their soil, so their roots are not exposed. That gives them a wider window. You can plant a potted tree in spring or fall, and even in summer if you water often, though heat makes it riskier. Most of our trees ship bare-root, so treat a potted tree as the exception, not the rule. Seedling bundles follow the bare-root rules exactly. These are young plants, sold in counts of 100 or 500. They make sense for large plantings, like a long hedge or a woodlot. The Witch Hazel Seedlings and Black Locust Seedlings both come this way. For one larger shrub instead, see our Witch Hazel. Plant bundles in the same dormant window as single trees. Open the bundle in shade, keep the roots wet and plant a few at a time. With so many to plant, heeling in the rest for a few days is often the safest way to finish the job without rushing.
Care and keeping: A tree planted in late fall rests through winter, but its roots still need moisture. Water it whenever a dry week passes and the ground is not frozen. After spring planting, water deeply once a week through the first growing season. Check the soil a few inches down first. Keep mulch a hand's width off the trunk.
Frequently asked questions
When not to plant trees?
Skip planting when the ground is frozen, waterlogged or bone dry. Avoid the heat of summer for bare-root trees, and plant them before their buds open and leaves start growing. If your tree arrives at a bad moment, store it cool and damp or heel it in until conditions improve.
Best time to plant a tree, morning or evening?
Season matters far more than the hour. Within a good day, a cool, cloudy morning or late afternoon is best, because sun and wind dry out bare roots quickly. Avoid planting at midday on a hot or windy day. Water deeply as soon as the tree is in the ground.
Which is the most common mistake made in tree planting?
For bare-root trees, it is letting the roots dry out between the box and the hole. Even a short time in sun and wind can hurt them. Planting too deep is another common one: set the tree so the flare, where the trunk widens into roots, sits at soil level.
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