When to Plant Fruit Trees in the Inland Northwest

Timing matters more for fruit trees than almost any other planting decision you'll make. Plant too early and a late frost can damage tender new growth; plant too late and the tree spends its first season fighting summer heat instead of building roots.

Bare-root trees: early spring, while dormant

Bare-root trees are shipped and planted while fully dormant, with no soil around the roots. In the Inland Northwest, that window is typically late March through April, as soon as the ground is workable and before buds start to swell. Planting while the tree is still dormant gives the roots several weeks to establish before the tree needs to support leaves and new growth.

If the ground is still frozen or waterlogged, wait. Roots planted in cold, saturated soil are prone to rot before they ever get a chance to grow.

Potted trees: more flexible, but avoid peak summer heat

Potted trees already have an established root ball, so they tolerate a wider planting window — spring through early fall. The ideal time is still early spring for the same reason as bare-root: it gives the tree a full growing season to settle in before winter. Early fall (September) is the next-best option, since cooler temperatures reduce transplant stress, as long as you plant early enough for roots to establish before the ground freezes.

Avoid planting potted trees in the peak of summer heat if you can help it — the combination of transplant stress and high temperatures makes it harder for a young tree to keep up with water demand.

A simple rule of thumb

If you're not sure which category your tree falls into, dormant and bare-root means as early as the ground allows in spring. Actively growing and potted means early spring is still best, but early fall works as a backup.

Either way, the sooner a tree's roots are established before summer heat arrives, the better its first year goes.