Frost dates by zone range from a May last frost and September first frost in zone 3 to February and December in zone 9. Dormant bare-root trees and shrubs need not wait for the last frost. Plant them in spring once the ground thaws, before buds open, and in fall after the first frost until the ground freezes.
This is the garden almanac of Tennessee Wholesale Nursery, a family-owned wholesale nursery in Altamont, Tennessee, near McMinnville. We grow trees, shrubs, perennials, wetland and native plants. Our bare-root trees and shrubs ship while dormant, so this guide explains what your frost dates mean for planting them.
Average first and last frost dates by zone
The table below gives the usual range for each USDA zone. These ranges come from the Garden Design frost date chart, which is based on the USDA hardiness zones.
| USDA zone | Average last spring frost | Average first fall frost |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 1 to 16 | September 8 to 15 |
| Zone 4 | April 24 to May 12 | September 21 to October 7 |
| Zone 5 | April 7 to 30 | October 13 to 21 |
| Zone 6 | April 1 to 21 | October 17 to 31 |
| Zone 7 | March 22 to April 3 | October 29 to November 15 |
| Zone 8 | March 13 to 28 | November 7 to 28 |
| Zone 9 | February 6 to 28 | November 25 to December 13 |
| Zones 10 and up | No usual frost | No usual frost |
An "average" frost date is not a promise. NOAA's Climate.gov describes the average last spring freeze as the date when the chance of freezing drops below 50 percent. So frost can still come after it about half the time.
Your zone also tells you less than you might think. A USDA zone is set by the coldest winter temperature, not by frost dates. Two towns in the same zone can be weeks apart. For your own town, use a local weather station table, such as the one NC State Extension keeps for North Carolina, or ask your county extension office.
What frost dates mean for dormant bare-root trees and shrubs
Most frost charts are written for vegetable gardens. Tomatoes and peppers must wait until the last frost has passed. A dormant tree or shrub is different: it has no leaves or flowers out yet. So for bare-root stock, the timing rules turn on temperature and buds, not on the last frost date.
Dormant means the plant is resting for winter. Our bare-root information page gives the temperatures that matter for our stock:
- Below 31°F: temperatures this low harm plant growth, so plant when it is above 31°F.
- Around 58°F: once temperatures reach about 58°F, plants leave the dormant stage and start to grow. In warm zones, a run of mild days brings that point closer, so plant soon after your stock arrives.
- Before buds open: plant before spring budding begins, while the plant is still asleep.
So the frost dates in the table are not a start line for bare-root planting. They are a rough marker. In spring, your window closes as days warm toward bud break, which often comes near the last frost. In fall, your window opens around the first frost, when trees drop their leaves and go dormant.
Bare-root planting windows by zone, spring and fall
Use this as a rough guide, built from the frost ranges above. Shift it earlier or later to match your local dates and the weather each year.
| USDA zone | Spring bare-root window | Fall bare-root window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Once the ground thaws, before the May frost range | Short: mid-September until the ground freezes |
| Zone 4 | Once the ground thaws, before late April to May | Late September and October, until the ground freezes |
| Zone 5 | Late March through April | Mid-October into November |
| Zone 6 | March and early April | Late October into December, while the ground is workable |
| Zone 7 | February and March | Late October through winter, on days above 31°F |
| Zone 8 | Winter through early March | November through winter |
| Zone 9 | December through February | Late November through winter |
In the coldest zones, spring is usually the safer choice, since the fall window is short. In zones 7 to 9, the ground rarely freezes for long, so fall and winter planting gives roots months to settle before summer heat.
When to wait before planting
A date on the calendar matters less than the ground and the weather on the day. Hold off when any of these is true:
- The ground is frozen. If a spade will not go in, roots cannot spread. Wait for a thaw.
- The soil is waterlogged. Squeeze a handful. If water drips out or it stays in a sticky ball, give it a few dry days.
- It is below 31°F. Wait for a warmer day.
- A hard freeze is forecast. Keep plants cool and covered for a few days, then plant when it eases.
One case runs the other way. If buds have already opened, the plant is no longer dormant, so do not wait. Plant it right away and protect the new leaves from a late frost.
Fall planting after the first frost
Your first fall frost is a useful signal. Trees and shrubs in your area drop their leaves around then and settle into dormancy. Bare-root stock we ship is already dormant when it is dug, so it can go in the ground when it arrives, as long as the soil is workable and it is above 31°F.
From there, keep planting until the ground freezes hard. In zones 3 and 4, that may be only a few weeks. In zones 7 to 9, it can run through much of winter, on any day above 31°F with workable soil. Water each plant right after planting and mulch around the trunk, as our planting instructions advise.
Trees and shrubs for the bare-root season
These plants from our catalogue ship bare-root. Check each zone range against your own zone before you order.
- River Birch Tree: zones 4 to 9.
- Redbud Trees: zones 4 to 9.
- White Dogwood Tree: zones 5 to 9.
- Hornbeam Tree: zones 3 to 9.
- Red Osier Dogwood: a shrub for zones 3 to 8.
- Elderberry Shrub: zones 4 to 8.
When Tennessee Wholesale Nursery ships bare-root plants
Our bare-root trees and shrubs ship from September to April, while they are dormant. They are dug fresh to order and arrive with no leaves or blooms. That is normal for a resting plant. Read our bare-root information page for how they are packed, and our shipping and warranty page for the terms.
Frost dates and bare-root planting: common questions
Can I plant bare-root trees before the last frost date?
Yes. A dormant bare-root tree can go in before your last frost date. Check three things first: the ground is thawed and workable, it is above 31°F, and the buds have not opened yet. If all three hold, plant now rather than waiting, since the plant wakes up as days warm toward 58°F.
When should bare-root trees be planted?
Plant them while they are dormant. In fall, that means after your first frost, once leaves have dropped, until the ground freezes. In spring, it means as soon as the ground thaws and before buds break. In zones 7 to 9, much of winter works too, on days above 31°F.
How do I plant bare-root trees?
Dig a hole wide enough to spread the roots out without bending them. Set the tree in, refill with soil and firm it gently. Water it right away, then add mulch or pine needles around the trunk so the water soaks in slowly, as our planting instructions describe. Keep watering regularly after that.
