The Best Time to Buy & Plant Fruit Trees in the Pacific NW

Dormant Season Planting

• The best time to plant fruit trees in the Pacific Northwest is during the dormant season, from November through the first week of April. The mild winters of the Pacific Northwest allow gardeners to plant anytime during the dormant season. By planting dormant trees during the cool, rainy season, the trees can establish a strong healthy root system before the growing season starts in mid spring.

Bare Root Trees

• Nurseries commonly sell fruit trees as bare root specimens from mid winter through early spring in the Pacific Northwest. Bare root fruit trees have no soil around the roots. Growers dig up the young trees, washed them clean of soil and then wrap and ship them to nurseries. One of the main benefits of selling fruit trees bare root is cost. Without the soil around the roots, the trees weigh less, and it eliminates the cost of a pot. However, nurseries can only sell bare root trees during the dormant season. Once the growing season begins, the trees must be in the soil.

Planting Window

• When purchasing and planting bare root fruit trees, plant right away, within two to three days of purchasing them. If you leave bare root fruit trees sitting around, the roots will dry out, killing the tree. If you can't plant within two days, keep bare root trees in a cool place out of direct sunlight. Put the roots in a bucket or tub and pack loose damp potting soil or sawdust around them.

Potted Trees

• If you miss the dormant season planting window, you can purchase and plant potted fruit trees any time of year in the Pacific Northwest. Container-grown fruit trees are more expensive than bare root trees, so if you are planting a new orchard, wait until late fall and then purchase and plant bare root trees. When planting fruit trees during the summer, pick a cool, overcast day.

Planting

• To plant container grown fruit trees or bare root trees, dig out the planting hole the same depth as the roots and twice as wide. Check the growing conditions for your specific tree, taking into account sun requirements and soil needs. Place the tree into the hole and hold it upright. Spread out the roots on bare root trees. The most important part of planting is depth. Make sure the base of the trunk, where it meets the roots, is level with the soil line for both container grown and bare root trees. Water right after planting, soaking the soil as deep as the planting hole, then water once a week to encourage a strong root system.