Quick answer: Order 1 to 3 months before your planting window opens. For most of the US, that means ordering in winter for spring planting, or in mid to late summer for fall planting. Gardeners in USDA zones 8 through 10 can plant through much of winter, so their order window opens earlier too.
That timing feels backwards to a lot of first-time buyers. You'd expect to order a tree right before it goes in the ground. But nursery stock isn't sitting on a shelf waiting for you to show up. Each season's supply was planted years ago, and the sizes and cultivars people want most run out first.
When to Buy Trees for Spring or Fall Planting
Most of the US plants on one of two windows: early spring, once the soil thaws and is workable again, or fall, about six weeks before the ground freezes solid. Both windows give roots time to establish before summer heat or winter cold stresses a new tree.
Spring planting works almost everywhere. Fall planting is often the better choice for many species, since the tree spends cooler months building roots instead of fighting heat stress right out of the gate.
Gardeners in USDA zones 8, 9, and 10 get a third option. Mild winters there mean you can plant through much of the cold season instead of waiting on spring at all. Your exact window depends on your climate, so running your ZIP code through Arbor Buddy's zone lookup is the fastest way to know which window applies to your yard. If you'd rather get a shortlist matched to your yard automatically, the Plant Finder quiz does that in a couple of minutes.
Why Ordering Trees Early Wins
Ordering early wins because nursery supply is fixed years before you ever place an order.
A shade tree at a typical 2 inch caliper (trunk diameter measured six inches above the root ball) takes roughly 4 to 8 years to grow to that size. Nurseries can't grow more mid-size Bur Oak or Chinkapin Oak trees on demand once a season's crop sells through. What's in the ground now is what ships this year, full stop.
Popular cultivars and the largest planting sizes sell out first, usually weeks before the shipping window even opens. Ordering early doesn't rush your delivery. Your tree still waits to ship until your zone is frost-safe or past the worst heat. What early ordering does is reserve that specific tree for you before someone else claims it. If you already know your season, it makes sense to reserve trees for your planting window now rather than checking back later.
Order-By Table for Spring and Fall Planting
Order-by dates exist because trees ship on a zone-safe schedule, not on a first-come delivery truck. Here's how the three main windows typically break down.
| Planting season | Order by | Typical ship window |
|---|---|---|
| Spring planting | December to February | March to May, by zone |
| Fall planting | July to August | September to November, by zone |
| Warm-zone winter planting | September to October | November to February |
Once your tree ships, a little prep on your end makes the delivery day go smoothly, from having the planting hole ready to knowing where the truck can access your yard.
Bare Root Trees Have a Stricter Window
Bare root trees are dug from the field once a year while fully dormant, with the soil shaken off the roots, so their ordering window is tighter than container stock. Order bare root trees in fall through midwinter, since nurseries only dig them during that dormant stretch.
Shipping for bare root stock runs from late fall to early spring only. Miss that window and you're waiting until the next dormant season, not just the next few weeks. Fruit trees and some shade species are commonly sold this way because bare root shipping is lighter and cheaper.
What Ship-By-Zone Really Means
Ship-by-zone means a nursery holds your order until frost risk passes in your area in spring, or until extreme heat breaks in fall. That hold protects the tree, it isn't a delay in processing your order.
A tree shipped too early into a hard freeze, or too late into peak summer heat, arrives stressed before it even reaches your yard. That's why two customers who order the same week can get completely different delivery dates depending on their zone. It's a scheduling safeguard, not slow service.
Missed the Planting Window? Here's What to Do
You can still plant a container tree in summer if you commit to disciplined watering: about 10 gallons per inch of trunk caliper each week, more during heat waves. Container trees have an intact root ball, so they tolerate off-season planting better than bare root stock, as long as the watering doesn't lapse.
If you can't commit to that watering schedule, the better move is to hold off and reserve now for the fall window instead of planting into stress.
One honest note: if you need a tree in the ground this weekend, a local nursery will beat waiting on freight every time. Order-ahead shipping is built for planning a season out, not for same-week planting.
FAQs
What month should I buy trees?
Order in winter for spring planting, or order in midsummer for fall planting. Gardeners in warmer zones can also order in early fall for winter planting. The exact month depends on your USDA zone and when the ground is workable.
Is fall planting too late in the year?
No, fall is often the best planting window for many tree species. Cooler air lets the tree focus on root growth instead of fighting summer heat, and it has all winter to settle in before spring growth starts.
Why did my order ship weeks after I placed it?
Nurseries hold orders until it's safe to ship into your climate, waiting out frost risk in spring or extreme heat in fall. That gap between order date and ship date is a quality control step, not a fulfillment delay.
Why is everything sold out?
Nursery trees take years to grow to a sellable size, so each season's inventory is fixed well before it ever goes on sale. Popular cultivars and larger sizes sell through fastest, which is why ordering ahead of your planting window matters.
Can I plant a tree in summer?
Yes, container-grown trees can go in the ground in summer if you water consistently, roughly 10 gallons per inch of trunk caliper weekly, more in extreme heat. Bare root trees are the exception, since they're only shipped and planted while dormant.