When to Plant Trees in Kansas

If you live in Kansas and plan to plant trees this year, timing is an important consideration. Even a tree that is well cared for may not flourish if it is planted at an inopportune time.

Considerations

You can plant a wide variety of trees in Kansas, but be sure before you plant that you have the right trees for your area. If you plant a tree in an unsuitable location, it may not survive even if you plant it at the right time. Kansas is located in USDA Hardiness Map zones 5 and 6; most trees rated for these zones will survive in the state.

Preparation

Prepare your planting site over the course of summer and fall the year before you plant trees. The goal of preparation is to create loose soil 12 inches deep that is free of perennial vegetation; accomplish this through plowing, tilling, hand scalping or spot treatment, depending on the site.

Time Frame

Spring is the planting season in Kansas. You can plant container-grown trees, bare root trees and seeds between March and May. If you order trees, place the order the previous fall and plant them as soon as possible after you receive them in spring. If you transplant trees, do so before full buds grow on the branches.

Fruit Trees For Kansas

Fruit trees bring both healthy fruits for eating and canning and add to the overall beauty and appeal of your yard or garden. Planting one-year-old apple trees will produce better results than trying to relocate a mature tree. Apple trees should be planted in grassy areas, away from woods, streams or rivers. These trees bloom late in the spring and require very little maintenance throughout the year. However, planters will need to apply insecticide to protect the tree from invasive peach tree borers and a fungicide to prevent disease from growing inside the tree. Apricot trees also require frequent watering, especially in the warmer summer months. Early Redhaven, Redhaven, Harken and Reliance varieties of peach trees grow well in Kansas, according to the University of Kansas.