Gardening is certainly much more enjoyable during the pleasant weather of spring and summer than during cold damp winter weather. However, late autumn, winter and early spring are the best times for installation of new plant material. Bare root trees and roses exemplify how natural dormancy cycles may be utilized to the advantage of garden enthusiasts and their plants and trees.

Bare root specimens are less expensive and less cumbersome than nursery stock in cans and they are more likely to survive installation. In winter, they are dormant and not bothered by abuses that could cause serious damage or even death if incurred during active growth.

Bulbs and many other ornamentals are planted in winter for the same reasons. In fact, with the exception of species that are sensitive to frost, most ornamental species, including most annuals, should be planted during the cool damp weather prior to early spring if practical. Annuals that ‘thrive’ in heat, such as petunias, need not be planted too early in winter, but may be planted in early spring. Of course, there will always be a few summer annuals planted later to replace cool season annuals as they finish.

Some species that prefer warm weather may not appear to be active at all, but are actually producing roots in the cool damp soil. Roots do not grow as quickly as they would during summer, but are better dispersed because the soil is so evenly moist. These resulting roots allow growth to begin as soon as the weather becomes conducive. If planted during warm dry weather, foliar and floral growth is limited to what the confined root system can sustain. Consequently, plants installed during summer are slower and require more regular irrigation than those installed in winter.