When is Tree Planting season?
The answer to the question, ‘When is tree planting season?’ depends partly on whether you will be planting root-ball, bare-root or containerised trees. If you are not familiar with this terminology, it should be clear on your supplier’s website or catalogue how the trees will be delivered.
A root-ball tree will have its roots embedded in a ball of soil. This will then be protected by a hessian sack or similar biodegradable bag. This extra root protection gives more versatility to the size and species of plant supported, but root-ball trees are more costly to transport – and therefore buy – due to the extra weight.
Bare-root trees are less expensive to transport, but the roots are often damaged, so you can expect a high failure rate. Only small trees of limited species are suitable for bare-root planting.
When is tree planting season for root-ball and bare-root trees?
Root-ball and bare-root trees are only sold in the winter months because the roots would quickly dry out in warm temperatures.
Planting season for these trees is restricted to when they’re available: generally October to March. The earlier you plant, the more time your tree will have to develop its root system ready for spring. However, you should avoid particularly wet periods or sub-zero temperatures.
When is tree planting season for containerised trees?
A containerised tree (aka potted plant, CG tree) has been grown in a pot for a year or more. Its fibrous roots will be more developed than those of root-ball or bare-root trees, giving it a higher chance of success once transplanted.
Although containerised trees will give you more flexibility with planting time, the ideal time to transplant them is still during late autumn or winter, when the tree can focus on establishing itself in its new location.
If you do decide to plant trees in the summer months, choose a time when the air temperature is not too high. The summer heat will stimulate your tree into leaf growth. This will deplete its energy reserves, threatening its ability to establish a strong enough root system to survive the winter.
Be warned! Summer planting is a high maintenance activity because frequent watering, and root moisture monitoring, is essential if your trees are to survive. Even so, a lengthy summer drought could still undo all of your hard work.
That’s why most professional landscapers stick to the conventional late autumn and winter planting season.
Choosing the right species of tree for your needs
Selecting the appropriate type of tree for your project is at least as important as the month you decide to plant it.
The rate and extent of a tree’s growth will affect the view, so think about what impact this will have on surrounding homes and businesses. If you have limited space, a compact variety of crab apple or a neat magnolia may be a better choice than a weeping willow or eucalyptus, both of which can grow more than three feet a year.
Many organisations are now planting trees to enhance carbon capture from the atmosphere. If this is part of your brief, species such as oak and horse-chestnut are worth considering, although planting a diverse range of trees is often best of all.
Take out the guesswork with our tree planting service
Planting trees raises many difficult questions above and beyond ‘When is tree planting season?’ For example, ‘What trees suit the soil?’, ‘How often should I water?’, ‘When do I prune – and by how much?’, ‘How tall will the trees grow?’, ‘Will they pose a danger to nearby buildings or roads?’
If you prefer to leave the hard lifting (and thinking) to the experts, have a look at our tree planting service.
