Plant Trees in the Winter?

As the winter months get colder and colder, homeowners are eager to know if it is possible to put up trees during winter? The quick answer is yes. But you need to be aware of the type of tree you want to plant, your climate zone, and coming weather forecast. It is also a factor when you plant your tree in the early or middle winter. Let's go over the various factors in greater detail to help you determine when is the right time to plant trees in your backyard.

Tree Type - Evergreen or Deciduous

When you're considering whether to plant a tree during the winter months, think about the kind of tree you're looking at. Evergreens - like spruce or pine trees--don't let their needles go. Since they require all the nutrients available before the ground gets frozen and they are able to have a smaller space for planting over deciduous ones. It is important to plant evergreens in a time when the soil temperature is not less that 60° F (16 degrees Celsius).

Deciduous trees, or ones which shed their leaves and fall dormant in winter, don't require the same amount of energy to endure the cold winter months. This means that the temperature will decrease when planting them. For best results plants deciduous trees in the autumn or in early spring just before the trees begin to flower at a time when the soil has a temperature of 50° F (10 degrees Celsius) or more.

Climate Zone

The climate can have a major influence on when you are able to include a tree in your backyard. In all of Canada and northwestern United States, fall is the ideal time for planting trees. The summer heat has gone and the harsh temperatures of winter are still to come. If you're in USDA the Plant Hardiness Zones 1--7, mid-August through mid-October is the best moment to introduce an additional tree to your garden.

However, in the southern climates -- including Zones 8 to 11--you will are more likely to have time to plant trees established. The months of November through December can be suitable dates when you can plant your trees. Florida, Louisiana, and southern Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Upcoming Weather Forecast

Additionally, when taking into consideration the climate of your area, current unpredictable weather conditions could affect the likelihood of you planting trees. For example, a particularly warm winter could be suitable for planting trees even if you are in an area with a northern climate. However, a sudden snowstorm in the beginning of September requires to be awaited before placing any new trees in the ground.

Early, Mid, or Late Winter

The winter time can be split into three different phases. Early winter typically has characteristics that resemble fall, making it ideal for the transplantation of saplings. But, if the ground freezes or the snow is falling, it's better to put off transplanting until late winter or even early spring. In the end, young saplings are prone to damage from frost, and their roots can dry up when you plant them during midwinter. Unless you live in a northern climate, where snow and cold aren't an issue.

Special Considerations

Whatever your location or what kind of tree you'd like to plant, you can help your tree to survive winter months by following these guidelines:

• Continue to water: Saturate the soil around the tree each one or two weeks until the ground begins to freeze. Give it a particularly thorough watering just prior to a large freeze.
• Mulch: The freezing-thawing cycle can be especially damaging for young tree roots. Insulate the soil by covering it with mulch to keep a steady temperature. Mulch also reduces the rate of evaporation so that roots are able to absorb water more efficiently.
• Make sure the tree is staked: Windy winter conditions can impede the growth of a sapling. Make sure the tree grows straight and straight by securing the tree to at least three stakes.
• Think about applying anti-desiccant It is a substance that provides a protective waxy covering to broadleaf evergreens anti-desiccants stop deiccation (drying out) in the winter months.
• Do not fertilize: Immediately after planting an sapling, you'd like the tree to grow strong roots, not brand new branches. It's okay to add some bone meal and compost, but you should wait until spring.
• Don't cut: Transplanting is stressful enough for a sapling, without removing all its branches. The only exception is the case of a damaged limb in transit and needs to be removed.
• Protect your tree from deer: Make sure to protect new trees from being a target for deer by treating it with a repellent for deer. Consider also putting a deer repellent tube around the trunk to prevent animals from rubbing their antlers.