hi Tracy, You should be able to plant all fall and winter. Unless your ground freezes. I don't think it does where you are but just so you know. Ideally get them all planted before spring so the roots can begin growing and they can be better established before summer. I highly recommend the $5.00 plant $10.00 hole method myself but some will disagree. But be sure not to plant them to deep, mulch and water well. You didn't say if the were potted or fresh dug. Please let us all know and good luck and happy digging. James in Florida

You should be able to plant all winter in your location. The soil will stay a lot warmer than the air, and roots continue to develop and establish much of the winter. It's quite incorrect to think that the roots of woody trees and shrubs (or much of anything) stop growing in the fall and winter. Even deciduous trees that are fully dormant should be planted in the fall/winter in your climate. The roots will grow! You probably have several months of establishment time ahead of you, until the soil gets cold enough at root level to slow down growth. By that time, unless your trees are extremely large, they should be fully established. As a matter of fact, fall is THE ideal time for planting in warm climates. The top growth slows down so that the plant can concentrate on root development. It's a good thing. It used to be common knowledge; I wonder why it isn't anymore. Your trees should be well established by the time hot temperatures roll around in the spring of next year. The last thing you want your new trees to experience is bud break, new growth, and hot temperatures on a root system that isn't developed yet. Be sure to follow proper planting methods...dig the hole no deeper than is needed for the rootball to sit at soil grade or higher....but two to three times wider. Do NOT add soil amendments of any kind into the hole or mix with the backfill. Use the native soil. Mulch with a 2 to 3 inch layer of something organic like pine straw, bark chips, etc. but do not pile the mulch up against the trunk. Be sure to keep the root ball watered and moist. Fall is the time for planting in all warmer climates. Actually, this is true for anyplace where the soil doesn't freeze solid. Don't trust information you get from HomeDepot. Once year, I over heard a clerk telling a customer that she could plant the cut Christmas tree she had just purchased in the ground after the holidays. A CUT Fraser Fir! Lordy.

Hi, I was waiting to see if anyone else wanted to chime in here first, but since no one has, here is my opinion and please note that I live in Western PA about 12 miles north of Pittsburgh. I have planted DL's here as late as mid October. I don't really recommend that you plant this late, just stating that I have done it and the plants survived. I also mulched them with 4 to 5 inches of shredded bark after several hard freezes (temps dipped into the mid 30s). I try for the most part to have things planted no later than mid to late September, and this applies only if I can't avoid having to plant in the fall. Otherwise I strongly recommend planting in the Spring which gives the plants the entire Summer to establish themselves, and then they have a much better chance of surviving the winter IMO.

Well, I work for a landscape company, and have to deal with this concern every fall. Typically, we do plant shade trees, ornamental trees, and deciduous shrubs right up until the ground freezes. Certainly it is better to give them time to establish a root system, but we have had pretty good luck with this practice. I would NOT plant evergreens this late in the season. The last date for evergreens is Oct. 15th. They simply do not take well to late fall planting. Perennials should be in the ground by now. Another poster was right in that without an established root system, frost heaving will occur. This raises the plant out of the ground and will often kill the plant if not rectified. They key thing I stress to folks is to make sure plants get adequate water. So many people think because the temps are cooler that they don't have to water. This is a big reason why a lot of plants don't survive the winter. Please water!