Deciding the Best Time to Plant: Fall vs. Spring, or Anytime

There is plenty of conflicting information about the best time to plant new shrubs in your landscape. Some recommendations claim spring is the best time for planting, while other sources say the best time of year to plant new shrubs is in the fall. There are advantages and drawbacks to planting in each season.

Truthfully, the correct season depends on what you’re planting. This makes it critical to have a plan before planting to ensure a healthy future for your shrub.

Why is Timing Important?

The ultimate goal with timing is to give your plant the best chance to establish itself and the root system before the following cool-weather season sets in. For the most part, this is in the fall. Planting later in the season gives shrubs some time to establish themselves before winter, and they are ready to produce new growth and flowers the following spring.

However, there is an important exception to this.

  • Late winter and early spring is the best time to plant all bare root shrubs as they are still dormant. Once spring temperatures start climbing, these shrubs will break dormancy and grow.
Benefits of Fall Planting

First off, planting in the fall is a good time for you. The upkeep of your yard through the spring and summer is winding down, so you have fewer tasks needing your attention. But your shrubs see the most significant advantages.

  • The combination of warm soil temperatures and cooler air temps stimulates root growth over shoot growth. Roots continue developing until the soil drops below 40°F.
  • Fall temperatures are typically cooler, and plants lose less water through their leaves via transpiration than in hotter summer weather. Since they are losing less water, they are less stressed, and more energy is directed to growing roots.
  • Autumn climates tend to have more precipitation, helping shrubs establish themselves.
Risks of Planting in the Fall

Unfortunately, planting in the fall isn’t risk-free, and the chance of problems or plant failure increases as you wait to plant later in the season. The most significant risks with fall planting are unexpected freezes or early snowfall.

Aim to plant when you still have six weeks before freezing temperatures arrive in your region. For many people, this is early to mid-October.