Planting Trees in the Winter

 

Many people look at the barren parts of their garden and wonder when they can plant that fruit tree they’ve always wanted to have. They know it is winter so they don’t want to waste time planting something that will die due to the weather.  The good news is that you can plant many things during the winter, especially in the warmer temperatures of the Bay Area.   However, even without these weather conditions, the best time of year to plant most trees actually occurs in late winter.

Dormancy

In order to understand the basics of planting trees, let’s discuss a key stage in a tree’s life, dormancy.  A person recognizes this as the stage in which their leaves usually fall off and it appears that the tree is dead.  In reality, the tree is in a “sleep” mode whereby it is using less energy and not growing at the same rate.  During this portion of life, a tree can withstand changes and thereby be moved, planted, and nurtured a lot easier.  As a result, many people start planting their trees in the middle to late winter while they are in dormancy.  Thus, when they enter the spring and key stage of growth, their roots are fully established in their new environment.

Evergreens

What about those trees that do not lose their leaves, the evergreens?  The short answer is that the same time period does apply with a bit more leniency.  Evergreens tend to withstand changes a lot better and aren’t as prone to dramatic shifts.  If anything, their ideal period for transferring can go longer due to their genetics.

Now is the time (if it’s late winter)

If you are wanting to get some trees planted, you should start selecting that ideal tree and begin planting it in the next thirty days or so.  Sexy Trees has a certified arborist with years of experience.  If you have questions about planting trees, feel free to reach out at Sexytrees.com.