Ask any nurseryman when to plant a tree and the answer is usually spring or autumn. For most of Australia, spring takes the win. Warm soil drives root growth. Long days give the tree a full season to settle. By summer it's established and ready to push on.
Done well, spring planting produces trees that are fully rooted by year-end. Done late or in the wrong conditions, results suffer. Here's how to do it right, and five trees that respond especially well.
What spring does for trees
Soil temperatures climb through September. Most tree roots only really start pushing once soil hits 15 degrees. Plant in spring and the tree gets months of root-friendly conditions before any heat or dry stress.
Top growth follows roots. A spring-planted tree often puts on visible growth in its first three months. Autumn-planted trees sit static through winter and start the same growth pattern the following spring, six months behind.
When to plant in spring
After last frost and before consistent days hit 30°C and above. In most southern Australia, that's mid-September to early November. In warmer northern regions, August to October works.
Avoid late spring if early summer heat is forecast. Newly-planted trees can't handle a sudden 35-degree week.
Five trees that thrive when spring-planted
Each delivers strong first-year results from spring planting. Pick by garden need, plant by the second week of spring, water through summer.
How to plant in spring
Dig the hole twice the rootball width and only as deep. Loosen the sides if soil is compacted. Plant level with surrounding soil. Backfill, firm gently and water in deeply.
Apply 5-10cm of mulch over the root zone, keeping clear of the trunk. Mulch retains the moisture spring rain provides and suppresses competing weeds.
First-year care
Water deeply weekly through first summer, twice weekly in extreme heat. Don't shallow-water daily, it produces shallow roots that fail later.
Skip fertiliser for six months. New transplants don't need pushing. Light formative pruning in late winter shapes the canopy.
FAQs
Can I plant in late spring?
Up until early summer in most regions. Watch the forecast. Hold off if a hot week is coming.
Will I see growth in the first year?
Yes. Spring-planted trees usually grow visibly by mid-summer.
Is autumn ever better than spring?
Autumn suits very frost-tender species and warm-winter regions. For most Australian gardens, spring delivers better first-year results.
Great article! It’s so true that spring provides the perfect conditions for tree planting. I love how you explained the benefits of planting during this season and the importance of proper care. Keep up the great work, Evergreen Trees!