1. [Home](/) 2. [Guides](/guides/) 3. [Landscape beds, mulch and planting in Southwest Ohio](/guides/landscape-beds-guide/) 4. When to plant trees and shrubs # When to plant trees and shrubs Fall and spring are the two good windows for planting in Southwest Ohio. How you plant, water and space matters as much as when. ## Key takeaways - Fall, from about September into October, is best for most trees and shrubs. - Spring works once the soil is workable and not soggy. - Plant at the root flare and water slowly and deeply through the first season. - Space plants by their mature width, not by the size in the pot. ## Fall is the best window for most trees and shrubs For most trees and shrubs in Southwest Ohio, early to mid fall is the best time to plant. The soil is still warm, so roots keep growing, while cooler air takes stress off the leaves and branches. Fall rains help too. The goal is a plant with roots reaching into the surrounding soil before the ground freezes. That means planting early enough. September into October is the usual range here. Evergreens benefit from the earlier end of it so they can root before winter wind dries their needles. Planting after the ground begins to freeze is a gamble. Some trees, such as birch and magnolia, are often easier to establish in spring. If you are not sure about a particular plant, ask the nursery when it does best. ## Spring planting works too Spring is the other good window. Plant as soon as the soil is workable, but not while it is soggy. Clay soil that is worked wet compacts and dries into hard clumps that roots cannot enter. A simple test: squeeze a handful. If it stays in a tight ball and does not crumble when poked, wait a few days. The spring window can be short here, because warm weather often arrives quickly. A plant set out in April needs steady watering all through its first summer. Midsummer planting is possible, especially for container plants, but it needs careful watering and some shade protection in the hottest weeks. We generally advise waiting for fall. ## Planting and watering in A good planting takes care of itself far better than a rushed one. Here is the sequence: - Find the root flare on the plant and the soil line on the root ball. - Dig the hole two to three times as wide as the ball, but no deeper than the ball itself. In clay, set the plant slightly high. - Remove twine, any synthetic burlap and the top of a wire basket before you backfill. - Backfill with the soil you dug out and break up the big clods. - Water slowly to settle the soil and remove air pockets, then add a little more soil if it sinks. - Spread two to three inches of mulch, keeping it back from the trunk. See [how much mulch is enough](/guides/landscape-beds-guide/how-much-mulch/). Watering is where most new plantings fail, either from too little or from too much. Water deeply and slowly rather than a little every day. Check the soil a few inches down. If it is damp, wait. If it is dry, soak it. In clay, overwatering is as common a problem as underwatering, because the soil drains so slowly. Keep watering through the fall until the ground freezes, and expect to water in dry spells through the second year too. Stake a tree only if it cannot stand on its own, and remove the stakes after a year. ## Spacing for the size the plant will become Nursery plants are small. The tag tells you what they will be. Read the mature width and height and plant for that size. As a rule, set a shrub a little over half its mature width from a wall or walkway, and space neighboring shrubs by their mature width unless you are making a hedge that you plan to keep clipped. Trees need even more thought. Large shade trees need space that many suburban lots do not have. Keep them away from the house, overhead wires, septic fields and the sewer lines that run under many older yards, especially in older neighborhoods where lines can be clay or cast iron. Choose smaller ornamental trees such as serviceberry or redbud for tight spots. Call 811 a couple of working days before digging for any tree. It protects you and the plant. ## Jobs for a professional Small shrubs and young trees are manageable for most homeowners. Larger balled-and-burlapped trees are heavy and awkward, and planting them correctly takes equipment. Never plant or prune near power lines yourself, and call a professional for any tree removal or for large dead limbs. If an established tree or shrub looks sick, a pro can tell whether it is a watering, soil or pest problem. See [tree and shrub care](/services/tree-shrub-care/) for what that involves, or [contact us](/contact/) with photos and we can point you in the right direction. ## Frequently asked questions Can I plant trees in summer? You can, but it is harder. Heat and dry spells stress new roots, so you need to water carefully and often. Waiting for early fall usually gives a better result with less work. How long should I water a new tree? Plan on watering through the entire first growing season and into fall, then again in dry spells during the second year. Check the soil a few inches down instead of following a fixed schedule. Should I fertilize at planting? Usually not. New roots need time to grow, and fertilizer pushes leaf growth the plant cannot support yet. A soil test will tell you if anything is actually lacking. 3 min read. ### Want us to handle it? Right Cut Lawn Care works in Hamilton. [Get a quote](/contact/)[Call 513-293-2427](tel:+15132932427) ### More in this guide - [Landscape beds, mulch and planting in Southwest Ohio](/guides/landscape-beds-guide/) - [How much mulch is enough?](/guides/landscape-beds-guide/how-much-mulch/) ### Related services - [Mulch Installation](/services/mulch/) - [Tree & Shrub Care](/services/tree-shrub-care/) ### Service areas - [Hamilton](/areas/hamilton/) ### Other guides - [Lawn Care in Southwest Ohio](/guides/lawn-care-guide/) - [A seasonal yard calendar for Southwest Ohio](/guides/seasonal-yard-guide/) ## Call us at 513-293-2427 or send a quote request and tell us about your property. [Get a quote](/contact/) [Call 513-293-2427](tel:+15132932427) --- **Right Cut Lawn Care** · 3985 Tylersville Road, Hamilton, OH 45011 · 513-293-2427 · ajerightcut@gmail.com [Get a quote](/contact/) · [Services](/services/) · [Guides](/guides/) · [FAQ](/faq/)