By Nancy Penrose
Many homeowners assume spring is the ideal time to plant trees. While spring is certainly a good season for planting, experienced arborists and professional nurseries throughout the Pacific Northwest often recommend something different: fall.
From September through November, the weather and soil conditions create an environment that encourages strong root development while minimizing stress on newly planted trees. Whether you’re planting a colorful maple, a flowering dogwood, or privacy trees, fall offers several advantages that can help your investment thrive for years to come.
Warm Soil Encourages Root Growth
One of the biggest benefits of fall planting is that the soil remains warm long after the air begins to cool. Throughout the summer, the ground absorbs and stores heat, creating ideal conditions for root growth.
Unlike leaves and branches, which become dormant as temperatures drop, roots continue to grow until the soil temperature falls to around 40°F. This gives newly planted trees several weeks, or even months, to establish themselves before winter arrives.
By the time spring returns, the tree already has a healthy root system in place, allowing it to direct more energy toward producing new leaves and vigorous growth.
Cooler Weather Means Less Stress
Summer can be difficult for newly planted trees. Hot temperatures, strong sunlight, and dry conditions force trees to devote much of their energy to surviving rather than establishing new roots.
Fall’s cooler temperatures dramatically reduce this stress.
With shorter days and milder weather, trees lose less moisture through their leaves. As a result, they require less watering and can focus on developing the root system needed for long-term health.
This is especially important for homeowners who may not be able to water newly planted trees every day during the heat of summer.
The Pacific Northwest Provides Natural Irrigation
One reason fall planting works so well in Washington and Oregon is the return of seasonal rainfall.
After the dry summer months, autumn rains help keep the soil consistently moist without becoming excessively hot. This steady moisture encourages root growth while reducing the amount of supplemental watering homeowners need to provide.
Of course, newly planted trees should still be monitored, especially during unusually dry autumns, but nature often does much of the watering for you.
Trees Get a Head Start on Spring
When you plant in the fall, you’re giving your tree several months to establish itself before the growing season begins.
Instead of spending spring trying to recover from transplant shock, fall-planted trees are ready to take advantage of warmer weather immediately. They often leaf out earlier, grow faster, and establish more quickly than trees planted later in the year.
Over time, this stronger start can make a noticeable difference in the health and appearance of your landscape.
Better Survival Rates
Trees planted during periods of cooler weather generally experience less transplant shock.
Transplant shock occurs when a tree struggles to adapt after being moved from the nursery to its permanent location. Symptoms can include leaf drop, slow growth, and increased vulnerability to insects and disease.
Because fall temperatures are more moderate, newly planted trees lose less water and experience fewer environmental stresses, improving their chances of successful establishment.
A Great Time to Plant Many Tree Varieties
Many popular Pacific Northwest trees perform exceptionally well when planted in the fall, including:
- Japanese Maple
- Vine Maple
- Red Maple
- Dogwood
- Serviceberry
- Birch
- Flowering Cherry
- Crabapple
- Excelsa Cedar
- Nordman Fir
- Serbian Spruce
- Vanderwolf Pine
Whether you’re looking for shade, privacy, fall color, or spring blossoms, fall provides an excellent opportunity to establish healthy, long-lived trees.
Don’t Forget to Mulch
After planting, apply two to four inches of organic mulch around the base of the tree. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent moisture buildup against the bark, which can encourage disease and decay.
Mulch helps:
- Retain soil moisture
- Moderate soil temperature
- Reduce weed growth
- Protect developing roots
- Improve soil quality as it decomposes
Watering Is Still Important
Although fall rains help considerably, newly planted trees still need consistent watering until threat of freezing temperatures arrive.
A deep watering once or twice a week is usually sufficient during dry periods. The goal is to keep the root ball moist—but not waterlogged—as the tree establishes itself.
Once winter arrives, supplemental watering is unnecessary until the following spring when threat of freezing temperatures has passed.
Why Buy from a Local Tree Nursery?
Choosing a locally grown tree offers advantages beyond simply supporting local business.
Trees grown in the Pacific Northwest are already adapted to the region’s soils, rainfall patterns, and climate. Local nursery professionals can also recommend species that perform best in your particular location, whether you’re planting in full sun, partial shade, clay soil, or well-drained ground.
Start Planting This Fall
If you’ve been thinking about adding trees to your property, don’t wait until spring. Fall offers ideal planting conditions that allow trees to establish strong root systems, reduce transplant stress, and prepare for vigorous growth the following year.
Visit our nursery this season to explore our wide selection of healthy, locally grown trees.
Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc., located in Snohomish, WA in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only deliver young trees, but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include fall color, spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees.
The company also does tree transplanting, including large trees. Their blog can be seen at https://bigtreesupply.com/blog/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.
Big Trees Inc.
10928 Springhetti Rd
Snohomish, WA 98296
360-563-2700
