Spring buds swelling on a bare maple and a fall yard full of leaves both signal a planting window for trees in Ontario. The province’s best seasons are late April and October, when the soil can be worked and roots have time to settle. Fruit trees go in earlier, in March and April.
When Is the Best Time to Plant Trees in Ontario?
Shade and ornamental trees do best planted in April or October, with May and September as fallback months. The Ontario dates here follow nearby Great Lakes climates, so confirm local timing with a garden centre, a garden society or the provincial gardening groups. The year runs like this:
- In April, and especially late April, the soil is workable and the tree is still resting, so roots can grow before summer heat arrives.
- In May, planting is still fine, though a tree set out this late needs regular watering as the days warm up.
- Through summer, hold off, because heat and dry soil stress new roots.
- In September, soil that is still warm lets roots keep growing, which gives the tree a head start.
- In October, planting works as long as it happens early enough for roots to grow before winter, and the soil is still warm at planting depth.
Container trees can go in most of the year if you water them, but they settle best in the dormant season. At the Toronto airport reference station, the average last spring frost falls around April 30, and the average first fall frost around October 16. Half of all years run later in spring and earlier in fall, so treat those dates as the middle of a window. Northern and upland districts of the province run weeks behind. The reference city sits in Canadian hardiness zone 7a, a system that does not convert to a USDA zone.
Ontario — the year and the numbers
- State
- Ontario
- Hardiness zones
- 7a
- Last spring frost
- April 30
- First fall frost
- October 16
- Annual rain
- 31 in
- Lawn zone
- cool-season
- Source
- Environment and Climate Change Canada — Canadian Climate Normals 1981-2010, station TORONTO LESTER B. PEARSON INT'L A · Toronto
When to Plant Fruit Trees in Ontario
Plant fruit trees in March or April, in late winter or early spring. Bare-root trees must go in while they are still dormant, before the buds open, so the soil only needs to be workable.
Container-grown fruit trees are more forgiving, since they carry their roots and soil with them. They still settle best in the dormant season.
| Kind of fruit tree | When to plant in Ontario | Why then |
|---|---|---|
| Bare-root | March to April | The tree is still dormant and the buds have not opened |
| Container | March to April, or any time with watering | It settles best in the dormant season |
Peaches need extra care in Ontario, since their blossoms can be caught by a late spring frost, so choose bud-hardy cultivars and protect the bloom.
Best Trees to Plant in Ontario
Oaks, maples, hackberry and redbud are good candidates for an Ontario yard, given the cold winters and the range of soils. Choose by the space you have, how much sun the spot gets and your local hardiness zone.
| Tree | How it does in Ontario | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Burr oak, swamp white oak, chinkapin oak, shingle oak | Long-lived and adaptable | These are the tough, adaptable oak species |
| Sugar maple | Handles shade while young | It tolerates shady situations early in life |
| Freeman maple | Fast growing, with strong wood | It is stronger than its parent, the silver maple, and tolerates varied soils |
| Common hackberry | Fast grower in many soils | It tolerates a wide variety of soil conditions |
| Redbud | Better from a northern seed source | Those trees are more likely to be cold hardy and like moist, well-drained soil |
Hackberry grows fast but can get leaf galls from an insect, and its limbs are prone to wind and ice damage. Magnolia, dogwood, tuliptree, sweet gum, red maple, birch, hawthorn, poplars, cherries, plums and many oaks are better planted in spring than in fall.
When to Plant, Water and Prune Trees in Ontario
Planting, watering and pruning each have a season. Plant in April or October, water a fall-planted tree until the ground freezes, and prune fruit trees in late winter while they sleep.
| Task | Best timing in Ontario | Why then |
|---|---|---|
| Plant shade and ornamental trees | April or October | Roots grow before summer heat or before winter |
| Plant fruit trees | March to April | Bare-root trees are still dormant |
| Water a young tree | Regularly after planting, and in fall until the ground freezes | New roots dry out fast, and a fall tree needs moisture going into winter |
| Prune fruit trees | February to March, while dormant | Wounds heal fast, before buds swell |
Apples and pears come first, cherries follow in mid-March, and peaches go last, closest to bloom, since their flower buds are easily hurt by cold. Avoid pruning fruit trees in fall or early winter, because new growth may not harden before the cold. Oaks are left alone from March through October to limit the spread of oak wilt. The full pruning routine is on the page for when to prune fruit trees.
Where to Get Tree Advice in Ontario
Canada has no county extension offices, so advice comes from the province and from local growers. Both help with choosing a species or testing your soil.
- The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness publishes fruit growing and pruning guidance, worth a look before you order trees.
- A local garden centre or master gardener group can recommend species for your soil and sun, and many can arrange a soil test before spring planting.
Common Questions
Can You Plant a Tree in July?
You can plant a container tree in July if you water it regularly, but summer heat makes it the hardest time to plant. The dry soil stresses new roots, so the tree sulks and may fail where an April or October planting would settle in easily.
Should You Plant Oaks in Spring or Fall in Ontario?
Spring is the safer choice. Many oaks are among the trees that settle better when planted in spring, so plant them in spring once the soil can be worked. If you do plant in fall, finish early enough that roots can grow before the ground freezes.
Do Bare-Root Trees Need to Be Planted Right Away?
Yes, plant them as soon as the soil is workable in March or April. Bare-root trees go in while still dormant, before the buds open. Once buds swell, plant bare-root trees only if they can be kept watered until they establish.