When’s the best time to plant a tree?

That’s why so many of our trees end up decorating summer wedding venues! However, planting a tree in full leaf in the summer depends on frequent watering to enable the roots to provide enough hydration to the growing shoots and leaves. Some species, like Platanus hispanica (London Plane), routinely defoliate when planted in full leaf, only to re-shoot later.

Trees are like hibernating animals, tucking themselves away with nutrients before winter, which can then be used to see them through the cold, dormant months. Autumn root growth allows the tree to fill itself with food and hydration, so planting at a time that takes advantage of this process is ideal. When winter hits, a tree will go into full dormancy but will still root, albeit very slowly, when soil temperatures are above 5 degrees Celsius. A deciduous tree can be planted very successfully right up until it breaks dormancy in March/April.

However, this is not true of evergreen trees! These are best planted either in September/October to take advantage of autumn rooting or else from March through to May. If you plant an evergreen tree in the depths of winter, it can sulk and decline. Always take evergreens when they are on the rise, not when they close down for the winter.

There are always exceptions to the above, and for coastal or heavily exposed sites, it is always best to plant a deciduous or evergreen tree in the spring, just before the emergence of new season leaves. This saves the tree from being hammered by inclement conditions all winter, which can deplete food reserves and lessen vigour.