What is the best time to plant pine trees?

The best time to plant seedling pine trees is late summer or early fall, when soil temperatures are between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Exact planting times vary according to local climate, with warmer southern climates requiring a later start.

Pine trees can also be planted later in the fall and even into the winter in temperate climates, as they are capable of strong growth in soil that has cooled to as low as 45 degrees. Generally, pines do not grow vigorously until the second year in the ground. Starting in the second year, pine trees put on 8 to 16 inches of annual growth.