Why fall is the best time to plant trees
Asbury Park Tree Service · Updated
Spring gets all the attention at the garden center, but for most trees, fall is the better time to plant. In New Jersey, the sweet spot is roughly September through October, as long as you’ve got about 6 weeks before the ground freezes.
Why fall planting works
The roots keep growing after the leaves stop
Once the weather cools, a tree stops putting energy into leaves and new shoots. But the soil stays warm for weeks after the air cools down, and roots keep growing until the ground freezes.
So a tree planted in fall spends its first season building roots, with no leaves to feed and no summer heat to fight.
It skips the summer stress
A tree planted in May has a few weeks to settle in before July hits. Its roots are still small, it’s trying to grow leaves, and it’s losing water fast. That’s why so many spring-planted trees struggle their first summer.
A fall-planted tree gets a full fall, winter, and spring to grow roots before its first summer heat.
Less watering
Cooler temperatures and fall rain mean you’ll water a lot less than you would with a spring planting.
A few trees do better in spring
Most trees are fine in fall, but a handful (magnolias, birches, and some oaks are common examples) tend to do better planted in spring. Ask the nursery when you buy.
How to plant a tree in fall
Call 811 before you dig. It’s free, and they’ll mark underground utility lines.
Pick the right spot. Check how much sun it gets, how wet the soil stays, and how big the tree will get. Plant it far enough from the house, the driveway, and power lines that it won’t be a problem in 20 years.
Dig wide, not deep. Make the hole 2 to 3 times as wide as the root ball, but no deeper. The root flare (where the trunk widens at the base) should sit at or slightly above ground level. Planting too deep is one of the most common reasons new trees fail.
Loosen the roots. If the roots are circling the pot, tease them apart or cut through them so they grow outward.
Backfill and water. Fill with the soil you dug out, firm it gently, and water deeply.
Mulch. Spread 2 to 4 inches of mulch over the planting area, kept a few inches away from the trunk.
Caring for it after planting
- Water weekly until the ground freezes, unless you get a good soaking rain. Check by digging a few inches down. If it’s dry, water.
- Skip the fertilizer. A newly planted tree needs to grow roots, and fertilizer can push top growth it doesn’t need yet.
- Skip the pruning, except for broken or dead branches.
- Water again in spring, and keep it up through the first 2 summers.
Clearing the way for a new tree
If you’re replacing a tree that came down, the old stump is usually in the way. Grinding it out makes room, but plant the new tree a few feet away from the old spot, since leftover roots and rotting wood can make it a rough place for a new tree to grow.
Asbury Park Tree Service handles tree removal and stump grinding in Asbury Park and nearby towns. Call 848-217-5320 for a free estimate.
FAQs
When is it too late to plant a tree in fall?
Once the ground is close to freezing. In the Asbury Park area, that usually means aiming to plant by late October or early November, depending on the year.
Do fall-planted trees survive the winter?
Yes, when they’re planted at the right depth, watered well, and mulched. Dormancy is normal, and young trees handle it fine.
How often should I water a newly planted tree in fall?
About once a week, unless it rains. Keep going until the ground freezes.
Should I fertilize a tree when I plant it?
No. Let it focus on growing roots first.