Although in some cases fruit trees can be planted at almost any time of year, planting at the right time and under the best possible conditions will give your trees the best chances of survival. Take the timing of fruit tree planting into consideration before you buy the trees.
Bare Root Trees
You may see fruit trees sold as bare root stock -- young trees and root systems without soil attached to them. In cold climates, bare root trees should be planted in spring because fall-planted trees often suffer from winter injury. In warmer areas, you can plant bare root trees at any time of the year. In general, planting these trees as soon as you get them home is more important than the specific time of year, but they are usually sold during the winter dormant season, which makes early spring the best time to plant.
Unlike bare root trees, container fruit trees have soil around the root system. They sometimes come in pots, or the root ball may be wrapped in burlap. Because these trees come with soil attached, they do not have to be planted as quickly as bare root trees. If you live in a warm climate, you can plant at any time, although summer is not ideal because hot, dry conditions can be stressful for newly planted trees. If you live in a colder area, planting in spring will give these trees a chance to become established before winter.
If you plant trees in spring, wait until the ground has thawed and is dry enough to work with. If you squeeze a handful of soil, it should crumble apart rather than stick together. Avoid planting trees on rainy days, or in hot, dry conditions. A cool, overcast day is ideal. Choose a location that receives full sun, and where the ground never becomes wet and waterlogged, even after rain.
Nutrient requirements vary among different fruit tree varieties, but it's usually a good idea to incorporate mulch or organic fertilizers into the soil before you plant. Dig a hole that is just as deep as the tree's root system, and twice as wide. Place the tree in the hole and gently fill the soil back in. The soil around the roots should be firm enough to eliminate air pockets, but not so solid that the root system is constricted. Water thoroughly at the time of planting.
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