Every plant has a preferred window to go in the ground — timing it right does more for success than almost any other factor.
Spring Planting
Most annuals, vegetables, and container perennials go in after the last frost date, once soil has warmed enough for roots to establish comfortably. Cool-season crops like lettuce and peas can go in several weeks earlier, tolerating a light frost.
Fall Planting
Trees, shrubs, and many perennials actually establish better planted in fall, when cooler air temperatures reduce transplant stress while soil is still warm enough for root growth. Spring bulbs are the classic fall-only planting, needing a cold period before their spring bloom.
Give New Plantings a Head Start
Planting on a cloudy, cooler day, rather than in full midday sun, reduces transplant shock and gives new roots a gentler start. Watering thoroughly right after planting, regardless of season, helps settle soil around the roots and removes air pockets.
