When to Plant Root Ball Trees & Hedging
Picture this: It's March, the sun's finally showing its face, and garden centres are buzzing with eager customers. Everyone's got the same idea – it's time to plant! But here's a secret that experienced landscapers have known for years: the best time to plant root ball trees and hedging isn’t necessarily when everyone else is doing it.
If you want healthier plants, better establishment and greater value for money, knowing when to plant root ball trees and hedging is crucial. The answer might surprise you – autumn planting is your golden ticket. Let us explain why going against the crowd might be the smartest gardening decision you'll make this year.
When to Plant Root Ball Trees and Hedging: The Short Answer
The best time to plant root ball trees and hedging is from October through to January. This autumn and winter window gives your plants the optimal conditions to establish strong root systems before facing the challenges of spring and summer growth. While most people instinctively reach for their spades in March, autumn-planted root ball trees consistently outperform spring-planted ones by 3-4 months of development.
Why Timing Matters When Planting Root Ball Plants
We get it. Early spring feels right for planting root ball trees and hedging. The days are getting longer, everything's coming back to life, and you're itching to get your hands dirty in the garden. But here's the thing – your root ball trees and hedges are about to face their toughest challenge yet.
The problem with spring planting? Root ball trees planted in March are like athletes being thrown into a marathon without proper training. They need to:
- Recover from transplant shock
- Develop new root systems quickly
- Support fresh, water-hungry leaves
- All while temperatures rise and evaporation increases
It's a lot to ask, and some may not make it.
The April-May Risk Zone
Here's what many people don't realise: by April and May, evaporation increases rapidly. Root ball trees transplanted into a new site must quickly begin producing new roots before they can absorb enough water and nutrients to sustain their growth. Unfortunately, young, newly emerging leaves are extremely vulnerable to water loss through evaporation.
Even short spells of warm, dry weather can stress young plants. If their limited root system cannot keep up with the water demand, leaves dry out and fall. Once lost, these leaves cannot contribute to growth, and the development of the plant is set back — sometimes for the entire season.
There's also a practical challenge that catches many gardeners off guard. Many public holidays fall in spring, often linked together into long weekends. This means root ball trees and hedging are more likely to go without the extra care and watering they urgently need. Even just a few days of neglect, combined with poor weather, can undo all the careful work of planting.
Climate Change Makes Spring Riskier
Looking ahead, climate change is bringing more unpredictable and extreme weather patterns, making spring an increasingly risky choice for planting root ball trees and hedging. The natural quality, vitality, and uniformity of nursery-grown stock can be compromised as plants spend much of their energy simply trying to survive their first summer. What looked like a saving in time or convenience often ends up costing more in remedial care or replacement planting.
What Happens When You Get the Timing Wrong
Poor timing doesn't just mean disappointing results – it carries hidden costs that many people don't anticipate. Plants that struggle often don't show signs of failure until the following season, meaning replacements have to be ordered at great expense.
This isn't just the cost of the plant itself, but also:
- Re-planting expenses and labour costs
- Years of extra watering and intensive aftercare
- Loss of uniformity if replacement stock comes from a different field or nursery
- Project delays and disappointed clients
Getting the timing right when planting root ball trees and hedging prevents expensive disappointments.
When NOT to Plant Root Ball Trees and Hedging
Before we dive into optimal timing, let's cover when you should absolutely keep your spade in the shed. There are times when planting root ball and bare root plants should never be attempted unless you really know what you’re doing, regardless of the season:
- The soil is so wet that water drips from a handful of earth
- There is standing water in the planting hole
- There is snow covering the ground
- The temperature is 0c or below
- The soil is frozen
These conditions make it impossible for roots to settle into the soil. Planting during unsuitable conditions greatly increases the risk of tree loss. Careful planning of deliveries takes these risks into account and may require delays of days or even weeks until weather improves. While it may feel frustrating to wait, the benefit is always a higher success rate and healthier growth.
The Best Time to Plant Root Ball Trees and Hedging
Here's where it gets exciting. The best time to plant root ball trees and hedging is autumn. From October through January, you're working with nature, not against it.
When you plant root ball hedging plants during this optimal window, you're taking advantage of ideal soil conditions and natural growing cycles.
Why This Timing Creates a Chain Reaction of Success
Every step in the transplanting process influences the final result. From lifting the trees at the nursery, transporting them to site, and handling them carefully, through to the planting itself and aftercare — each stage must be right for the tree to thrive.
Although modern tools, irrigation systems, and planting techniques can help extend the root ball season, these solutions are costly and require additional expertise, machinery, and labour. Skilled workers and contractors are increasingly hard to find, which makes it even more important to plant at the right moment in the natural growing cycle.
The Underground Advantage
While you're tucked up inside through winter, something magical is happening underground. From October through to January, soil temperatures often remain high enough to support root activity for several months. During this same period, evaporation rates drop dramatically, reducing stress on the plant.
This means root ball hedging plants that are planted in autumn can establish an extensive, fibrous root system well before spring arrives. When the growing season begins, these plants are already settled, able to absorb water and nutrients quickly, and ready to rocket into growth while spring-planted stock is still trying to get their bearings.
Professional Results You Can See
The difference is dramatic. Knowing the right time to plant means your autumn-planted specimens can be 3-4 months ahead of spring-planted ones in development. They show:
- Better drought resistance in their first summer
- Stronger, more uniform growth
- Higher survival rates
- Less need for intensive aftercare
Experienced nursery growers have long taken advantage of this cycle and will usually plant all their young nursery stock in the autumn. These plants establish quietly through the winter and, by spring, are already growing strongly — while freshly planted spring stock is still trying to recover.
The Professional's Choice
Ask any experienced landscaper when they prefer to plant their root ball plants and they'll tell you: autumn, every time. Why? Because professionals know that timing is everything in getting consistent, reliable results.
Smart professionals also know that choosing the right time to plant root ball trees means:
- Better availability of quality stock
- More flexible scheduling (no spring rush)
- Reduced project stress
- Happier clients with better-performing plants
Autumn planting also brings practical benefits for landscapers, contractors, and private clients. The workload is spread more evenly across the year, avoiding the bottleneck of spring planting when demand is at its highest. Fewer delays, fewer risks, and smoother project planning mean less stress and more predictable outcomes.
Your Root Ball Hedging Planting Calendar: Month by Month
Ready to join the ranks of smart planters? Here's when to plant root ball trees and hedging for best results:
October-December: Prime Time for Root Ball Planting
This is your golden window for planting root ball stock. Soil is still warm from summer, but cooling air reduces water stress. Perfect conditions for root establishment.
January: Still Good for Hardy Root Ball Stock
Cold-hardy hedging can still be planted in January, though growth will be slower until spring.
February-March: Proceed with Caution
Late winter planting of root ball trees can work, but you're entering the risk zone as temperatures begin to rise.
April Onwards: Professional Advice? Wait Until Autumn
Spring and summer are challenging times for root ball planting. Professional landscapers typically avoid planting root ball trees and hedging after March, and turn to potted plants and container grown trees, which can be planted all year round.
Ready to plant smarter, not harder?
At Mathias Nurseries, we provide carefully grown, high-quality plants that are ready to thrive. We follow our own advice too – we plant all of our young nursery stock in the autumn because we know it works.
With the right preparation, careful planting, and proper aftercare, choosing the optimal time to plant root ball trees and hedging gives your project the best chance of success.
By selecting the right season and the right stock, you not only protect your investment but also secure stronger, healthier plants for years to come. Browse our autumn collection and give your landscape the head start it deserves. Your future self will thank you for it.
Alternatively, get in touch with a member of our team, we’re here to help!