5 Fruit Trees You Should Plant in the Fall

A cluster of apples hanging from a tree branch with leaves visible

If days filled with beach trips, backyard barbecues, and spontaneous swim parties delayed your gardening plans this summer, fear not: Many fruit trees are better suited for an early fall planting. The slightly muted sunshine of September and October allows these trees to soak up plenty of light—without the stress of higher temperatures.

In fact, regular watering, careful pruning, and a few intentional decisions about varieties, root type, and dormancy make it easy for you to plant a fruit tree now. Follow these instructions, and you’ll be bringing in a bountiful harvest before you know it.

Tips for Planting Fruit Trees in the Fall

The slightly cooler temperatures of autumn can benefit new growth. In southern parts of the United States, for example, the winter temperatures—as compared to the extreme summer heat—allow trees to more successfully establish their roots.

However, in the northern parts of the country, intense winters can impede root growth. “The method and timing of planting is key for success,” says Madeline Kay Wimmer, a fruit production educator at the University of Minnesota Extension. “The earlier in the fall the tree is planted, the more time it has to establish its root system before the first fall frost occurs.”

To help a tree cope with colder winter temperatures, Wimmer recommends putting a layer of mulch over the soil where the tree was planted. “Be cautious not to create a mulch volcano,” she notes. “Around 3 inches is usually sufficient.”

It’s also important to protect them from hungry wildlife. Wimmer recommends tree guards, which can deter rabbits and other small animals from nibbling the bark.

Apple

Ripe apples hanging in a tree. Apples hanging on a tree branch at garden center.
 

Fall’s most iconic fruit—the apple—is one that’s well-suited for an autumn planting, since the trees are especially winter hardy.

“The apple tree has been around for thousands of years; most of the varieties grown today are derived from the wild apple species found in Central Asia,” says Adrienne Roethling, private estate head gardener at Juniper Level Botanic Garden. “For many homeowners and gardeners, the only decision to make is the variety in which to grow.”

Choose a variety that has been grafted onto rootstock to thrive in your climate, such as Granny Smith in zones 6 to 9 or Cortland in zones 3 to 8.

Wimmer recommends Triumph for zone 4: “[It’s] a direct descendant of the Honeycrisp apple, so it still has that explosively crisp and sweet crunch that has become the gold standard for American apples,” she says. “Triumph comes with disease resistance, cold hardiness, and easier growing.”

  • Zone: 4 to 9
  • Size: 25 feet tall x 25 feet wide
  • Care requirements: Full to part sun; well-drained soil

Cherry

Cherries hanging on a tree branch
 

Some cherry varieties will be ready for harvesting as early as May, so planting these trees in the fall can set you up for a future filled with pies, tarts, and cobblers.

“Much like the apple, cherry trees have been around for thousands of years, and are derived from wild species,” says Roethling.

“Water newly-planted trees for proper root establishment and supplement water during dry spells for up to several months, especially during dry summers,” she adds. “After a year, the plants should be stable and adapt well to their environment.”

  • Zone: 5 to 6 for sweet cherries; 5 to 8 for sour cherries
  • Size: 15 feet tall x 30 feet wide
  • Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained, slightly acidic soil

Pear

Fresh ripe yellow pears on a tree branch close up. The greenery surrounding the pears is verdant, and the background is out of focus.
 

Planting a pear tree in the autumn means your tree avoids the stress of hot weather.

“The same rich history exists with pears as well [as apples] dating back to thousands of years ago, with the Romans using grafting techniques,” says Roethling. “Just like cherry and apple trees, pears belong in the rose family.”

However, this makes them susceptible to blight, black spots, and aphids; cleaning up dropped leaves in the fall can prevent spores of powdery mildew or anthracnose from spreading.

  • Zone: 4 to 9
  • Size: 25 to 30 feet tall x 25 to 30 feet wide
  • Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained, slightly acidic soil

Peach

Peaches growing on a tree branch with green leaves
 

A peach tree isn’t quite as hardy as an apple or pear tree, but planting it in September or October—with time to establish itself before the weather turns—can help it survive the winter.

“Grafted peach trees are available throughout the market, and one can easily find one or two varieties,” says Roethling. “Peaches usually produce a nice, viable fruit; they come up very easily and could become a great tree.”

In general, a dormant, bare-root tree is a better option than a potted tree for planting later in the season, says Wimmer: “as long as temperatures aren’t frigid and the soil is workable.”

  • Zone: 5 to 9
  • Size: 25 to 30 feet tall x 25 to 30 feet wide
  • Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

Persimmon

rsimmon fruit on a tree surrounded by large green leaves. Photographed with a shallow depth of field.

While persimmons aren’t as common in at-home landscapes, they provide an unexpected twist on classic compotes, salads, and tarts, and thrive in warmer climates.

“Persimmon may be a novelty plant, but it’s a great addition to the kitchen garden,” says Roethling. “[They] are deciduous trees with leaves emerging in mid to late spring. The flowers are small, green with four petals—a kind of cupped shaped giving way to round fruits come late summer and fall.”

Some years, these trees can produce a bumper crop.

  • Zone: 7 to 10
  • Size: 50 to 80 feet tall by 20 to 30 feet wide
  • Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

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