Thanks to our year-round warm and mild climate, many Floridians enjoy planting and caring for fruit trees around their property. Fruit trees offer many benefits, from added visual beauty, fruit production, and wildlife sustainability. One of the most common questions prospective fruit growers ask is when is the best time to plant fruit trees.

The best planting times for fruit trees vary according to your climate, the type of tree you are planting, and how the tree has been prepared for planting. In this article, we’ll cover the best time to plant fruit trees in Orlando, The Villages, Clermont, and nearby central Florida areas

Planting Bareroot Deciduous Trees

Bareroot trees are trees that have been dug up from the ground when they’re dormant. These trees are usually uprooted in the fall and their roots are shaken free of all soil. Generally, bareroot trees establish themselves quicker and grow more vigorously than other transplants.

Because bareroot trees are dug up while dormant, they must be planted while they are still dormant, usually in late winter or early spring at the latest. January is the best time to plant deciduous fruit trees as this gives the roots time to establish themselves before the hotter months. When choosing deciduous trees for your central Florida property, it’s important to pick ones that have a low chill requirement as they fare better in our mild, somewhat warm winters.

The chill...