When days get shorter and the air turns many gardeners think they can’t plant anymore.
But winter doesn’t mean you should stop if you want a lush landscape. This quiet time is great for planting certain tough trees that can handle freezing temps and grow strong roots before spring.
To plant in winter, pick sturdy trees like maple, birch, and oak, which grow strong roots when they’re dormant. Evergreens like spruce, pine, and fir also do well staying green all year and standing up to harsh winter weather. These trees will grow when spring comes.
Ever wondered which trees can tough it out in the coldest winters? This guide’s got you covered. We’ll look at why planting in winter is a good idea, point out the best trees for the cold season, and give you step-by-step advice on how to plant and protect your new trees.
Which Trees Can Tough Out The Coldest Winter?
Not all trees can make it through harsh winter conditions, but some types don’t just survive freezing temps—they love them.
These tough-as-nails trees are great to plant in winter because they can grow strong roots while they’re dormant, which means they’ll be ready to grow like crazy when spring comes around. Let’s check out some of the best options in different groups.
Tough Deciduous Trees That Drop Their Leaves
Deciduous trees lose their leaves in autumn, but this doesn’t mean they’re weak during winter.
Many deciduous types do well when planted in winter using the cold months to grow tougher and healthier roots. Here are some top deciduous trees to think about.
Maple Trees
Maple trees, like sugar maples and red maples, are well-known in cold areas. These trees can handle freezing temps well, which makes them great choices for planting in winter. Here’s why:
Cold Adaptation: Sugar maples do well in USDA hardiness zones 3-8, while red maples can handle an even wider range, from zones 3-9. Their deep roots can push through frozen soil, which helps them get stable fast.
Vibrant Fall Foliage: People love maple trees for their eye-catching fall colors ranging from golden yellows to bright reds. Planting them in winter gives their roots time to grow strong, which sets them up to show off rich colors when autumn comes around.
Strong Root Growth: Winter-planted maple trees put all their energy into growing roots, which sets them up to grow in spring. This early advantage means they’ll be more firmly anchored in the ground making them better able to handle dry spells and strong winds later on.
Birch Trees
People often think of cold places when they see birch trees, with their pretty, paper-like white bark and small shaking leaves. Types such as paper birch and river birch work well for planting in winter. Here’s why they’re a good pick:
Can handle cold and wet weather: Birch trees do well in USDA zones 2-6 where winters get tough. They grow in places with cool summers and cold winters, so planting them in this season lets them settle into conditions they know.
Grows fast: Birch trees are known to grow, and planting them in winter gives them time to set down roots before they start their rapid spring growth. This gives them a head start when the warm months come around.
Soil Preferences: Birch trees thrive in soils that are a bit acidic, drain well, and stay moist—conditions winter often brings. Planting them when the soil has natural moisture helps them adjust quicker and start growing as spring comes.
Oak Trees
Oak trees, like red oaks and white oaks, have a reputation for living long and standing strong. These trees don’t just look grand; they’re tough as nails, which makes them great to plant in winter. Here’s why:
Deep Root Systems: Oak trees grow large deep roots that keep them steady during tough winters. Planting them in winter gives roots time to set in cold-packed soil before they face spring and summer growth challenges.
Long-Term Growth Potential: Oak trees grow, but they last. When you plant them in winter, their roots start. This helps them turn into tough hardy trees that can handle decades of rough weather.
Cold Hardiness: Red and white oaks do well in zones 3-8 where it gets very cold. Their thick bark acts like a coat shielding them from winter’s cold.
Evergreen Trees for Winter Planting
Evergreens keep their leaves all year, unlike deciduous trees. This means they look good even in the middle of winter. Their green lively appearance during cold months makes them great to plant in winter. Here are some top picks.
Spruce Trees
Spruce trees, like blue spruce and Norway spruce, thrive in colder areas. Their even shape and thick branches make them good for looks and practicality. Here’s why they’re great for winter:
Cold Resistance: Spruce trees show remarkable toughness. They thrive in zones 2-7. These trees can withstand freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall during harsh winters. This makes them dependable picks for cold climates.
Windbreak Capability: People often plant these trees to block wind because of their thick sturdy branches. When planted in winter, spruce trees focus on growing roots. This gives them more strength against strong winter winds when spring comes.
Low Maintenance: Spruces need little care once they take root. Planting them in winter ensures they’re set to flourish with minimal care in warmer months.
Pine Trees
Pine trees, like eastern white pine and Scots pine, are adaptable evergreens that do well in cold weather. These trees grow, resist harsh conditions, and provide several advantages for planting in winter:
They Grow in Poor Soils: Pine trees can grow in many soil types, from sandy to acidic. This makes it easy to plant them in winter when soil quality can change.
They Stay Green in Winter: Pine trees keep their needle-shaped leaves all year adding green to your garden even in the coldest times. Planting them in winter gives them time to adjust leading to healthy growth when spring comes.
Fast Growth: Pines grow, and planting them in winter gives them a jump on setting down roots. When spring arrives, they’re set to shoot up, closing spaces and giving shelter.
Fir Trees
Fir trees, like Douglas fir and balsam fir, are traditional evergreens that people often link to Christmas time. These trees look good and work well in cold areas. Here’s why planting them in winter makes sense:
Handles Heavy Snow: Fir trees can hold up under lots of snow without snapping. Their branches point up, which helps snow slide off cutting down on the chance of harm during big winter storms.
Tough in Cold: Firs do well in USDA zones 3-6 where winters last long and hit hard. Their thick needles keep them warm helping them stay healthy even when it’s freezing outside.
Many Uses: People love firs for Christmas trees, but they also work great as privacy screens and windbreaks. Planting them in winter gives them time to grow strong roots so they’re ready to sprout thick full growth when it warms up.
Why Plant Trees in Winter?
Planting trees in winter might look odd when snow or frost covers the ground, but it’s a smart move with several unique perks. The quiet season gives certain trees the perfect setting to grow strong roots making them tougher when spring comes.
Trees Face Less Stress
In winter, trees go to sleep slowing their growth. During this time, the tree doesn’t use energy to make leaves, flowers, or fruit. Instead, it focuses only on building and strengthening its roots.
When you plant in winter, you give the tree a chance to get ahead without putting too much stress on it for full growth. The tree can slowly get used to its new spot without having to support all its leaves.
Better Root Growth
In cold months, trees focus on growing their roots. Planting in winter lets the roots settle and grow in the soil before the busy growing season starts. When spring comes, the roots are set and ready to soak up food and water well.
This early start often results in trees that are healthier and stronger. These trees can better handle summer heat dry spells, or bugs that might attack them.
Reduced Risk of Transplant Shock
Transplant shock happens when someone moves a tree to a new spot. This causes stress that can slow down growth or even kill the tree. The shock often results from sudden changes in the tree’s surroundings such as shifts in temperature, moisture levels, and soil conditions.
In winter, trees go dormant, which makes them less likely to experience these shocks. The cold weather also slows down water evaporation helping the tree stay hydrated and stable as it gets used to its new location.
Fewer Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases show less activity in colder months giving your planted tree a better shot at staying healthy. Insects, fungi, and bacteria that usually attack trees when they grow go dormant or slow down a lot in winter.
This allows the tree to put its energy into root growth without the extra strain of battling infections or bug problems.
Better Soil Conditions
Winter often means the soil holds more water in places where snow and rain happen more often.
This natural moisture has an impact on keeping the tree’s roots hydrated. Also, the soil is softer and easier to work with in winter, compared to the hard dry conditions you find in late summer. This means the roots can grow more freely leading to stronger growth.
Availability of Nursery Stock
While it might seem odd many nurseries offer more tree varieties to choose from during winter. You can often find bare-root trees, which are sold with no soil around their roots and are easier to handle and plant.
Bare-root trees cost less and are easier to move making winter a cheaper time to plant.
Start Before the Spring Planting Rush
Spring keeps gardeners on their toes, and lots of folks jump at the chance to plant when it gets warmer. If you plant in winter, you’re one step ahead giving your trees a jump on growth before spring’s gardening frenzy kicks off.
This means your trees will have strong roots come summer, plus you’ll have time to take care of other garden chores when spring rolls around.
Conclusion
Winter isn’t a time when nothing happens for planting trees. It’s great to plant tough trees that can handle cold, like maple, birch, oak, spruce, pine, and fir. When you plant these trees in winter, they get a jump on growing roots, which makes them stronger when spring comes.
The cold weather helps the trees in many ways. It keeps them from getting shocked when you move them. It also means fewer bugs and diseases can hurt them.
This gives your trees the best chance to grow well. By planting in winter, you’re setting up your garden to look full and green in the years to come.
Don’t let the cold stop you. Try planting in winter and you’ll see your garden grow better than ever.