The reason is simple. In autumn the soil is still warm from summer while the air has cooled — so the plant doesn't have to support leaves and puts all its energy into roots. By spring it has built a root system, and in May, when the first dry spell comes, it has something to draw on. Spring planting doesn't get that advantage: the plant breaks into growth immediately and has to root and grow at the same time.
Exactly when to plant
The ideal window runs from mid-October to the end of November — after leaf fall and before the ground freezes. A simple rule serves well: as long as you can dig the soil, you can plant.
What to plant in autumn and what not to
| Group | Autumn planting | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Deciduous trees and shrubs | ideal | apples, pears, plums, currants, gooseberries |
| Roses | ideal | earth up over the union after planting |
| Deciduous hedging | ideal | hornbeam, privet, dogwood |
| Conifers and evergreens | September rather | they need to root early, they transpire all winter |
| Peaches, apricots | spring is safer | young trees are prone to winter dieback |
| Bay, fig, citrus | no | frost-tender, plant in spring |
Bare-root stock — the autumn speciality
Autumn is when bare-root plants are sold — no pot, roots exposed. They're markedly cheaper than containerised stock and establish just as well, but with one condition: the roots must never dry out. Between buying and planting, keep them wrapped in damp sacking or heeled into soil. An hour in the sun on a barrow can kill a plant.
How to plant, step by step
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Trees planted too deep struggle and often die years later.
- Break up the sides of the hole — in heavy soil, smooth walls behave like a plant pot and roots can't get out through them.
- Spread the roots out — evenly outwards for bare-root stock; on containerised plants, tease out or cut through any roots circling the edge of the ball.
- Keep the root collar at ground level — on grafted plants the graft union must stay above the soil.
- Backfill with the original soil, not pure compost — an over-rich hole discourages roots from venturing into the surrounding ground.
- Make a watering basin and soak it thoroughly — 20–30 litres per tree, even if it's raining. The water settles the soil around the roots.
- Stake it — essential for anything over 1.5 m. Drive the stake in before planting, not after, so you don't spear the roots.
- Mulch — 5–7 cm of bark or leaves, but leave a clear ring around the stem.
What not to forget after planting
- Water in autumn too — if a dry spell follows planting, keep watering until the ground freezes. Drought, not frost, is the commonest killer of newly planted woody plants.
- Guard the stem against gnawing — a spiral guard or wire mesh. Rabbits, hares and voles treat young bark as a first-choice winter food.
- White paint or a reed mat on the south side of the trunk against frost cracks — these open on sunny winter days, when bark warms up by day and freezes hard at night.
- Prune in spring, not now — don't cut back after autumn planting; wait until late winter.
Frequently asked questions
Is autumn really better than spring for planting trees?
For deciduous woody plants, yes. The soil is warm in autumn, rainfall reliable, and a leafless plant puts all its energy into roots — by spring it's a whole season ahead. For conifers, evergreens and frost-tender species (peach, apricot) spring is the safer choice.
How late in autumn can you plant woody plants?
As long as the ground can be dug and isn't frozen — in normal conditions roughly to the end of November, and in mild winters into December. What matters is having a few frost-free weeks after planting for the plant to make contact with the surrounding soil.
Do I have to water a newly planted tree in autumn if it's raining?
Yes, straight after planting without question. Watering isn't only about supplying moisture but mainly about settling soil around the roots — it fills the air pockets in which roots would dry out. Repeat the 20–30 litres whenever a longer dry spell sets in, right up to the freeze.