Hardiness Zones

• Young fruit trees are frost tender, so it's wise to wait until after your final spring frost before you set one into the ground. The date of the final frost varies from region to region, so check the USDA Plant Hardiness website to determine the average date of your final frost before you plant. If you live in a frost-free zone, plant fruit trees before your hot weather arrives.
  
  

Plant Environment

• You can prepare the soil where you will be growing your fruit tree before your final frost. If you dig organic materials such as compost into the planting area in fall or winter, they will have several months to decompose and blend with the soil.
  
  

Temperature Extremes

• Just as frost can damage a sapling fruit tree, so can extremely hot sun. If your summers are warm, be sure to plant all fruit trees before the weather warms up around late June or July. If you must plant in warmer weather, consider providing shade with a tarp or shadecloth over your tree.