When to Plant Bare-Root Fruit Trees in Your Zone

No matter where you live, planting bare-root trees is an easy way to add apples, peaches, or pears to your garden. However, planting these dormant trees at the correct time is crucial to their survival. Join farmer Briana Yablonski to learn when to plant bare-root fruit trees in your growing zone.

A bare-root fruit tree is being planted in a hole in the soil with a large trowel and a small bag of blue granular fertilizer in an autumn garden.

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Even though I’ve spent the past decade working on vegetable farms, I can’t deny the magic of home-grown fruit. Each year, I look forward to biting into sun-warmed peaches in July and snacking on crisp, flavorful apples in October. Although local, fresh-picked fruit rivals the taste of shipped-in produce, growing fruit trees at home brings this enjoyment to a whole other level.

When I started researching the types of fruit I wanted to plant in my backyard, I quickly learned about bare-root plants. Bare roots are easy to ship, less expensive than their potted counterparts, and have robust root systems that promote quick growth. However, planting them at the right time of year is crucial to their success.

Not sure when to plant a bare-root apple or cherry tree? I’ll cover the basics of bare-root trees, including factors to consider when determining the proper planting time. Then, I’ll guide you on when to plant these dormant trees in your growing zone.

What Are Bare-Root Fruit Trees?

Multiple young dormant tree seedlings are neatly arranged in white translucent bags at a garden center.
Taller dormant specimens may yield fruit earlier than smaller ones.

Bare-root trees are dormant specimens that are sold loose without soil. Since they aren’t in pots, growers can pack them tightly and easily ship them. That means purchasing a bare-root tree is less expensive than buying a potted tree of the same variety.

Since bare-roots are easier to ship, you can select from nurseries nationwide. This allows you to obtain rare varieties of apples or peaches that are unavailable near where you live.

The lack of pots also means you can sometimes find taller bare-root specimens compared to potted ones. Starting with a four or five-foot tall tree means you can expect to harvest fruits a year or two earlier than if you began with a two-foot tall tree.

When Is the Best Time to Plant Bare-Root Fruit Trees?

A gardener's hand places a tree seedling in a hole while another gardener fills it with soil in a spring garden.
Avoid extreme weather for successful root establishment and growth.

Since bare-root trees are dormant, you want to avoid exposing them to warm temperatures and long days that cause a break in dormancy. Plant your tree sometime between the time when leaves drop in the fall and when buds begin to swell in the spring. This will help them stay dormant.

However, you should also be aware of temperature. Digging a hole in frozen soil is extremely difficult, if not impossible. Therefore, you should plant them before the ground freezes in the fall or after it has thawed in the spring.

No matter when you plant your bare-root fruit tree, remember the overall goal: stress the tree as little as possible. Planting at the proper time allows the tree to settle into its new home before the strain of hot weather or extreme cold arrives.

Spring or Fall?

A tree seedling with bare light brown roots rests against a wooden peg in a garden bed.
Early transplanting helps roots settle before seasonal temperature shifts.

Planting bare-root trees in the fall offers numerous benefits, including decreased drought stress and better growth. However, fall works best for warmer regions where there’s ample time between the last of the summer heat and the first frost. If you want to plant in the fall, aim to plant at least six weeks before the first heavy freeze.

Transplanting in the early spring is another option. This method works best for cold areas and is suitable for other growing regions. However, it’s important that you plant your trees early enough that they can settle into their new home before long days and warm temperatures arrive.

Bare-Root Tree Planting Dates by Growing Zone

Growing zones indicate the lowest winter temperatures for a location, but they’re also helpful for estimating the length of your growing season and determining first and last frost dates. For example, gardeners in zone three or zone eight can generally expect to plant their crops around the same time.

That said, keep in mind that temperatures can vary between locations within the same zone—and from year to year in a single location.

While this guide provides a helpful starting point for planting bare-root trees, it’s important to know your area’s specific dates and temperatures. Look up your average first fall and last spring frost dates, and monitor the weather forecast closely to choose the best time.

Zone 3

A gardener in black rubber boots plants a tree sapling with roots in a hole, with a large garden spade stuck beside it.
Spring works best for cold zones.

Zone 3 includes cold areas like Yellowstone National Park, northern Minnesota, and parts of Maine. Since these areas can experience a hard freeze as early as late September or the beginning of October, fall planting is out of the question. Instead, plant your bare-root trees in the spring after the ground has thawed.

Although these regions are too cold for stone fruits like peaches and plums, they are usually suitable for growing cold-hardy apples.

Spring planting dates: March 15 through April 15

Zone 4

Male hands unpack tree roots from a black bag, revealing tangled, light brown roots over dark soil in a garden.
Fall planting is possible with careful timing.

Locations in zone 4 have long, cold winters, but they still experience hot summer days. Some zone 4 cities include Duluth, Minnesota, and Lake Placid, New York. Many apple varieties grow well in zone 4, and you can find a few peach, plum, pear, and cherry varieties that grow well in this cooler environment.

Since the first fall frost doesn’t occur until sometime between mid-September and October, you may be able to get away with fall planting. Just make sure to wait until native vegetation has gone dormant, and plant the trees at least six weeks before the first hard freeze.

Fall planting dates: October 1 through October 30

Spring planting dates: March 1 through April 1

Zone 5

A gardener in black high boots plants a tree sapling with exposed roots into a hole in the bright, sunny garden.
Planting early helps avoid harsh winter freeze.

Parts of the Central Plains and New England belong in zone 5. These areas receive harsh winters with below-freezing temperatures and hard, frozen ground.

If you want to plant in the fall, plant your trees as soon as native vegetation begins to go dormant. Spring planting also works well; plant your trees shortly after the ground has thawed.

Fall planting dates: October 15 through October 30

Spring planting dates: March 1 through April 1

Zone 6

A man waters a freshly planted tree sapling using a large metal bucket in an autumn garden.
Wait for dormancy before planting in colder winter months.

Zone 6 covers areas from Massachusetts to Michigan to Nevada. These locations receive below-freezing temperatures in the winter and temperatures above 90°F (32°C) in the summer. This varied climate supports apples, peaches, plums, figs, and other tasty fruit trees.

If you want to plant bare-root trees in the fall, November is the best month since the foliage is dormant, but the ground isn’t frozen. You should complete spring planting as soon as the ground thaws.

Fall planting dates: November 1 through November 30

Spring planting dates: February 15 through March 15

Zone 7

A man in black rubber boots adds fresh soil to a young tree in a spring garden.
Spring planting should begin once the ground softens.

Zone 7 includes parts of the Mid-Atlantic, Central Plains, and Pacific Northwest. Although winter lows often dip near 0°F (-18°C), these areas typically experience long, hot summers.

If you want to plant in the fall, you have a relatively long planting window. Mid-November is often ideal, but this varies depending on your location and climate. You should complete spring planting as soon as the ground is soft and your tree is ready.

Fall planting dates: November 1 through December 15

Spring planting dates: February 15 through March 15

Zone 8

An elderly gardener wearing jeans and a sweater plants a leafless fruit tree into freshly dug soil in a sunny garden.
Spring planting works well if planting is delayed.

Zone 8 includes much of the southeastern US as well as parts of the Coastal West. Winter lows dip as low as 10-20°F (-12 to -7°C), but the ground rarely freezes. Therefore, you can plant bare-root fruit trees throughout most of the winter.

Both spring and fall planting works well in this zone. Planting in the fall means less watering and more time for growth, but spring planting also works if you can’t receive your tree until February or March.

Fall planting dates: November 15 through December 30

Spring planting dates: February 1 through March 1

Zone 9

Young apple trees with slender trunks and oval green leaves are tied to vertical wooden stakes, standing in neat rows in a bright spring garden.
Dormant trees thrive when planted before breaking dormancy.

Zone 9 includes areas in the Deep South, Pacific Northwest, and Southeast. This growing zone supports all kinds of fruit trees, from apples to peaches to figs. Before purchasing a tree, make sure your area receives the proper number of chill hours.

If you live in zone 9, you can plant anytime from the late fall through early spring. As long as your trees are dormant and the ground isn’t frozen, you can dig a hole and start planting. I recommended planting in the fall or late winter to ensure your trees have time to settle before they break dormancy.

Before you purchase a bare-root fruit tree, check the company’s shipping schedule. Nurseries in cold locations don’t begin digging and shipping their trees until April or May. Therefore, skip buying from these companies and opt for a nursery with earlier shipping dates.

Fall planting dates: November 15 through December 30

Spring planting dates: January 15 through March 1

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