Can I plant trees during the winter?

Question

I was thinking of planting pine trees in my yard... I live in New Hampshire...it's not cold right now, it only gets down to 30 degrees at night.


Do you think it's ok to plant trees right now?

Answer 1

Not really worth it, even if it is warm. Pines are tough plants, but they have to work within their growth cycle. Plants go dormant, or at least sleepy, outside their preferred growing temperatures and conditions. Even a conifer will take a break sometime. The plant may be OK, but not very active. There's also a couple of months to go which could damage a seedling. Wait until Spring.

Answer 2

Since they are "sleeping" it would be okay, but if the ground is frozen, it would be very hard to dig the hole properly. Depending on how many you are intending on planting, you could dump some buckets of hot water on the ground and let it soak in. This would take awhile though. And while it is soaking in, use a shovel/spade to slowly chop the soil up to help it soak in. Then, when the ground has cooled off, start digging and then plant the trees. and mulch of course.

I would also say that since the pines didn't have from last spring to this winter to get their roots growing that it would be good to wrap their needles in burlap (no plastic) to help them survive. The winter sun and the wind ZAPS moisture out of the needles leading to winter burn (dessication). So pines planted in both fall or winter should be protected with the burlap that will still give them some light shinning through. One shouldnt use plastic because it can kill the trees. They get no fresh air, and the sun would warm them up during the day as if they were sort of in a green house. Come night time any moisture in the bag would then freeze on the tree. If this happened alot, the tree wouldn't be able to withstand it.

Then, next year, they should be okay without the burlap during that winter (I use burlap for the first two winters just to be safe).

Lastly, if you can get the trees on sale or something right now since it is winter, just ask if they have a one year return policy, if so buy them up--even if you dont feel like planting them, you can just set them outside in a semi-protected area with the burlap wrapped around them and then use a bunch of mulch around their root balls or plastic containers.

Hope this helped,
Sammie

Answer 3

It is okay as long as you can get the hole dug. Any month with an R in it. Sept through April. Just make sure that you give the plant plenty of water in the hole and no air pockets around the root ball. If you do not get alot of melting snow or rain make sure you water it just like you would any new tree or bush.
Fruit trees are done when dormant, normally early spring before leaves bud.

Answer 4

I wouldn't advise it. The best time to plant a tree is in the Spring or fall. The ground is to cold during the winter.

Answer 5

Yes it is ok .We were at a tree nursery just the other day, picking out our x-mas tree.
Seen some fruit trees for sale, they said it was a good time of the year to plant, so we bought the fruit trees, we live in Iowa.

Answer 6

Best if you wait till spring. The farmers almanac is amazingly accurate on good days to plant...