Significance

• Planting fruit trees at the right time of year may have a critical effect on their ability to establish a strong root system and eventually produce plentiful harvests for you. Although you can plop a tree in the ground at any point during the year, some times may give you better success than others -- meaning more fruit to enjoy and a longer-lived tree for your yard. Evaluate the seasonal weather patterns in your chosen location carefully before making this decision.
  
  

Geography

• The right time of year to plant fruit trees depends on your location. In warmer climates, plant fruit trees in either spring or fall, when temperatures are moderate. In places with colder fall weather, however, spring is the best time, as soon as the soil is completely thawed. Planting during cold fall weather, which is followed by winter's ice and snow, isn't very kind to your tree as it tries to establish itself. Similarly, summer should be avoided in areas with high summer temperatures, though in cooler climates, summer might be an acceptable time. Consider how difficult it might be for your tree to begin growing under challenging weather conditions in your specific area.
  
  

Considerations

• Choose the type of fruit tree that is appropriate for the season. Bare-root trees (sold without soil around their roots) will have time to establish their root systems and prepare for hot summers if they are planted earlier in spring, such as in April or May. Trees sold with a burlap-covered root ball or in a pot can wait until later in spring or be planted in early fall, as they will have an easier time integrating with your soil prior to more extreme hot or cold temperatures.
  
  

Benefits

• Selecting the right time of year to plant your fruit trees makes it easier to use organic methods to raise them. A fruit tree that is well-established and strong is better able to resist disease and pests, meaning that gentler organic methods can control any problems that arise. You can raise healthier, more ecologically sensitive fruit by planning the timing of your fruit tree planting carefully.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• You can make your fruit trees stronger and more manageable not only by selecting the best time of year to plant them, but also by deciding when you will prune them. Pruning fruit trees in summer will limit the amount of energy they can store their roots in late summer and fall, which will restrict the tree's growth the following spring. A smaller tree may look less impressive, but it will be easier to care for on your own, and you will be able to physically reach all the fruit it provides without using a ladder. Pruning and managing your fruit tree while keeping the seasons in mind will help determine how much all your hard work pays off in edible rewards.