When to plant perennials: in spring or fall. Plant dormant bare-root perennials early in spring, as soon as the soil can be worked and before new growth starts. In fall, plant while the soil is still workable, ideally four to six weeks before the ground freezes. Skip the heat of midsummer.
This is TN Nursery's order and shipping help site, run by TN Nursery, the third-generation family nursery in Altamont, Tennessee, that has grown native trees and plants since 1959. Most of our perennials ship bare-root and dormant. This guide covers when to order for your zone, what to do when the box arrives, and how to plant so the roots settle in before the next season.
When to plant perennials: what spring and fall do for bare roots
A dormant bare-root perennial has no leaves to keep alive, so it can go into cool soil earlier than a potted plant in full leaf. Iowa State University Extension says bare-root perennials are best planted in spring before growth begins. Roots grow in cool, moist soil while the top is still resting, and the plant leafs out on its own schedule.
Fall works too. The air is cooling, but the soil keeps enough warmth for roots to grow. A fall-planted perennial spends the winter rooting in and starts spring already established. The one firm limit is time: plant early enough for the roots to anchor before the ground freezes.
- Spring suits: cold-winter zones, late-summer bloomers, and anyone planting bare roots for the first time.
- Fall suits: spring and early-summer bloomers, and warmer zones where summer heat comes on fast.
- Avoid: frozen or waterlogged soil, and the hottest weeks of summer.
The frost months are typical averages, not guarantees. Here is how the windows line up with our shipping seasons. In zones 3 to 5, the fall window closes about when fall shipping begins in early October, so order for spring. In zone 5, plant once the soil has thawed and dried enough to crumble in your hand, usually in April. In zone 7, which takes in much of Tennessee, both seasons fit: plant in March or from October into early November. In zones 9 and 10, spring heat arrives soon after spring shipping begins, so fall is the easier season. Whenever a box arrives, plant as soon as the soil is workable. A dormant bare root can go in before your last frost, because it has no tender leaves for frost to damage.
Use the table as a starting point, then check your own frost dates locally. Elevation and nearby water can shift them by weeks. If you do not know your zone, look it up by ZIP code on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
| USDA zone | Typical last spring frost | Spring window for bare roots | Fall window | Best season to order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zones 3–4 | May | Late April to May, once soil thaws and drains | Early to mid-September | Spring |
| Zone 5 | April | April to early May | September to early October | Spring |
| Zone 6 | April | Late March to April | Mid-September to mid-October | Spring, or early in the fall season |
| Zone 7 | Late March to early April | March to early April | October to early November | Spring or fall |
| Zone 8 | March | Late February to March | October to November | Spring or fall |
| Zones 9–10 | Frost is rare; if any, by February | February to March, before the heat | November to December | Fall |
In zone 7, which takes in much of Tennessee, a dormant perennial can usually go in during March, and fall planting runs through October into early November. In zone 5, wait until the soil has thawed and dried enough to crumble in your hand, usually in April. For fall planting there, aim for September so the roots have weeks of open ground before the freeze.
When TN Nursery ships dormant perennials and what arrives
According to our shipping information, spring shipping begins in early March and runs through May, and fall shipping begins in early October and runs through December. Within those seasons, the exact timing depends on your hardiness zone and the weather. If your order reaches you near the end of your zone's window, plant it right away rather than storing it.
A dormant perennial does not look like the photos on its product page. Expect a crown with roots and perhaps a few buds, but no flowers and often no leaves. Open the box the day it arrives. Healthy roots feel firm and heavy, not dry or brittle, and the buds are firm. Mushy roots, a foul smell or many broken stems are signs of a problem.
Tip: Our live arrival guarantee covers plants damaged in transit or that fail to thrive within the first 48 hours of arrival. Contact us right away with photos at support@tnnursery.net or 931-692-4252. Full terms are on the warranty page.
Storing bare-root perennials before you plant
Plant within a day or two if you can. If rain, frost or your schedule gets in the way, Iowa State University Extension's bare-root guide recommends a few simple steps:
- Keep the plants somewhere cool that does not freeze, around 40°F, such as a refrigerator, an unheated garage or a root cellar.
- Leave the packing material on the roots. It should feel like a wrung-out sponge.
- Check it often and add water when it starts to dry. Never let the roots dry out.
How to plant bare-root perennials and care for them the first weeks
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Soak the roots
Set the roots in a bucket of water for 30 to 60 minutes just before planting. Trim off any broken or damaged roots.
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Dig a wide hole
Make the hole two to two-and-a-half times wider than the spread of the roots, so they can lie out without bending.
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Set the crown at the right depth
Place the crown, where roots meet stems, no more than one or two inches below the soil surface. Fill in around the roots and firm the soil gently.
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Water it in
Water well right after planting to settle the soil around the roots.
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Mulch and keep checking
Spread mulch around the base, not on top of the crown. Check the soil once or twice a week and water when it is dry, through the first growing season.
These steps follow Iowa State University Extension. The University of Maryland Extension adds that wood mulch piled on top of crowns encourages rot, and that a 1-inch layer works well once fall frost arrives. A bare root planted in fall may show nothing above ground until spring. That is normal for a dormant plant.
Which perennials to plant in fall and which in spring
The University of Maryland Extension gives a simple rule: spring-flowering perennials may do better planted in late summer or early fall, and late-summer bloomers transplant better in spring. Here is how that sorts some of our perennials.
- Fall: the Daffodil Plant blooms in spring, so fall planting lets it root in over winter and flower the following spring.
- Spring: plant Black Eyed Susan, Brown Eyed Susan and Purple Coneflower bare roots in spring. In zones 7 and warmer, early fall is a second choice.
- Either season: the Orange Daylily arrives as a bare root. Plant it in whichever window fits your zone.
Planting a whole bed? The 10 Perennial Plants Package and the 15 Pollinator Plant Collection bundle several perennials in one order. Browse all of our perennial plants to plan your next order.
What time of year to move perennials
The University of Maryland Extension names early spring or fall as the best times to transplant perennials, ideally on a cloudy day. Divide spring and summer bloomers after they flower, in late summer or fall. Divide fall bloomers in early spring.
Questions about when to plant perennials
When is the best time to plant perennials?
Spring and fall both work. Plant dormant bare-root perennials in spring as soon as the soil can be worked, before new growth starts. Or plant in fall while the soil is still workable, ideally four to six weeks before the ground freezes. Cold zones do best ordering for spring, and the warmest zones do best in fall. Avoid midsummer heat.
Can you plant perennials in the fall?
Yes. Plant while the soil is still workable, ideally four to six weeks before the ground freezes, so the roots can anchor before winter. Spring and early-summer bloomers do especially well planted in fall. Mulch around the base once frost arrives, keeping it off the crown, and expect little growth above ground until spring.
When to plant perennials in Zone 7?
In zone 7, plant dormant bare-root perennials from March to early April, or from October to early November. Our spring shipping season runs from early March through May and our fall season from early October through December, so both line up with these windows. Check your local frost dates, since elevation shifts them.
When to plant perennials zone 5?
In zone 5, plant in April to early May, once the soil has thawed and drained enough to crumble in your hand. The fall window, September to early October, closes about when fall shipping begins, so zone 5 gardeners do best ordering bare-root perennials for spring planting. Check your local frost dates before you plant.
