Most trees in home gardens are planted from December through March. At that time most local nurseries and garden centers offer fruit trees for sale. For many brick-and-stone nurseries and garden centers it might be the only time they actually offer fruit trees.
In general, the best time to plant fruit trees is the end of winter or early in spring, December through March. Plant the fruit trees when they are in dormancy, plant them before they emerge out of dormancy. When The fruit trees can be planted also depends on the location where they are planted. Plant the fruit trees when the soil has thawed, dried off a bit, and became workable. Do not plant fruit trees in frozen soil. Frozen soil could damage the tree’s roots, especially the roots of bare-root trees. Do not plant fruit trees in overly wet soil. When wet soil is being worked it will become compacted around the roots preventing proper root growth, water retention, and water drainage around the root system of the tree. Wet soil is also hard to work with.
Fruit trees can be purchased bare root or planted in soil in planters. Bare-root fruit trees are easier to ship and they are mostly sold by mail-order nurseries. Threes planted in soil or bark, in pots are mostly sold by garden centers and garden nurseries and are mostly bought in pers and not shipped by mail.
Before you plant the fruit trees check the soil. Dig a hole about one foot down and one foot wide and if the soil is thawed and dry enough, you can plant the trees.
I live in zone 6, with lots of especially in February and March, and frosty nights until the end of March. I wait till the temperatures are cool but not warm yet. I avoid planting my fruit trees during hard frost. I like to plant them end of March when the weather is cooler but not with hard frost, the snow has melted, the soil is thawed, and had enough time to dry to become workable.
What are bare root trees?
Bare root trees were taken out of the ground during their dormancy with their roots, they are uprooted. They are in dormancy, have no leaves on, the roots were shaken off all the soil around them, and are left bare of the soil. When you buy a bare root tree you will generally receive them with the roots wrapped in some moisture-holding materials. They are best planted from later winter to spring, depending on your hardiness zone, weather, and soil conditions in your area.
What do hardiness zones mean and how to determine yours
The best is to plant them while they are still in dormancy anytime from February to March and even April, depending on your location and if the tree is still in dormancy when planted. Bare root trees should be planted immediately or if not possible their roots should be kept in water and planted as soon as the conditions are right. Bare root trees should not be however kept in water for prolonged times, and should not be left just sitting dry.
Since the roots of the bare root trees were uprooted from the existing soil in which they grew, they can be more sensitive to transplanting therefore it is best to plant them while still dormant from December through March with favorable soil and weather conditions.
What are containerized trees?
Trees bought in pots or with their roots buried in soil and contained in a container or pot are called containerized trees. They are sold in garden centers and potted in large containers.
What are balled trees?
Balled trees have their established roots in the existing soil and the whole root system with the soil is wrapped in burlap.
Balled and containerized trees experience lesser transplant shock compared to bare root trees when transplanted and therefore these can be planted almost anytime, even in late summer to the beginning of fall, depending on your location.
I have bought some containerized trees and some bare-root bushes, which are to be potted the same way as the bare-root trees. I like them both, containerized and bare root. They all thrive, and as long as you amend the soil well around the roots when planting, mulch the top of the soil well, and keep them well watered, they will establish themselves and reward you with delicious fruit. But remember, it might take time to get the fruit, so be patient, the reward is on its way!
Read here How to pick a healthy tree.
