Planting Timeline for Every Province: When to Order & When to Plant
One of the most common questions we hear each year is: When should I order my seedlings and when should I actually plant them?
Because Canada spans so many climate zones, planting timelines can feel confusing. The good news is that with a bit of planning, ordering early, and understanding how dormant seedlings work, spring planting doesn’t have to be stressful no matter what province you’re in.
When Ordering Opens (And Why Early Matters)
Ordering for spring delivery opens in mid-August for the following year. Orders can be placed online or through our office, and everything is handled on a first-come, first-served basis.
While ordering stays open until inventory is gone, many of our most popular products begin selling out as early as December. Availability can change quickly, sometimes unexpectedly. For example, a single large order from a colony may take all of one variety, or a town or county bulk order can significantly reduce inventory overnight.
Because of this, we always recommend ordering as early as possible. Early orders mean:
- The widest selection of species
- No need to “settle” for a second choice
- Less disappointment come spring
We don’t set a hard deadline for ordering; we simply stop selling once inventory is gone. That usually happens around April 1.
How Our Shipping Schedule Works Across Canada
Because we operate out of Alberta and are a smaller operation, we ship by province, beginning in mid-April. This timing allows us to send seedlings while spring is just beginning to wake up across most of the country.
Colder regions, such as the Yukon, are typically shipped later, often during the first week of May, or in the final week of our shipping season. This helps ensure seedlings arrive when outdoor conditions are more suitable.
We also offer shipping options within our shipping window. Customers are added to a special delivery calendar, which we monitor daily during shipping season to ensure orders arrive as close as possible to when they’re needed.
Unless you’re on a specific delivery schedule, orders are shipped in the order they were placed, meaning August orders first, then September, and so on.
Dormant Seedlings = Flexible Planting
All seedlings are shipped as dormant as possible. This is important because dormant seedlings don’t require immediate planting the moment they arrive.
In many cases, it can take a few weeks for seedlings to come out of dormancy after delivery. This gives customers flexibility and reduces the pressure to plant everything at once.
For many people, this helps ease the feeling that spring planting is overwhelming. Instead of tackling everything in a single day, seedlings can be planted gradually, a few in the evening, or over a couple of weekends.
Making Planting Manageable (and Even Enjoyable)
One of the simplest ways to make spring planting feel less daunting is to turn it into a shared experience.
A suggestion we often give is hosting a family planting BBQ:
- Ask everyone to bring a shovel
- You supply food and refreshments
- Divide the seedlings into manageable portions
Basic planting roles can include:
- Planters digging holes roughly 8–12 inches wide and about 8 inches deep
- Soil prep helpers amending the soil so it’s light and fluffy for root establishment (even a bagged soil mix works well)
- Waterers giving each seedling its first deep drink
- Mulchers following behind to top dress and protect moisture
What feels like a big job suddenly becomes something meaningful, especially years later, when you’re watching those trees grow.
What If You Can’t Plant Right Away?
Not everyone can drop everything to plant immediately and that’s okay.
Dormant seedlings can be stored for several weeks in a cool, dry location, such as a garage floor, as long as they’re:
- Kept away from windows and heat sources
- Removed from boxes for ventilation
- Checked regularly to prevent white mold
- Watered so they don’t dry out
Many farmers, for example, receive seedlings while they’re still deep into their own seeding season and that work naturally takes priority. Dormant seedlings provide the flexibility needed to finish critical field work without panic.
If Seedlings Begin to Wake Up Before Planting
If planting is delayed and seedlings begin coming out of dormancy, they’ll need a bit of adjustment.
A north-facing, shaded outdoor area is ideal. This allows seedlings to slowly transition while staying protected from heat and direct sun. Growth that begins in shade tends to be lighter in colour due to lower chlorophyll production, but this is far better than forcing tender new growth into full sun too quickly.
Placing newly waking seedlings in a south-facing or hot location can cause the fresh growth to burn or “cook,” leading to dieback and early stress. Starting stressed can stunt plants and create unnecessary disappointment.
Slow, shaded exposure helps seedlings ease into active growth under low-stress conditions.
From British Columbia to Atlantic Canada, successful spring planting starts months earlier. Ordering early gives you the best selection, and dormant shipping provides the flexibility to plant at a pace that works for you. With the right timing and a bit of planning, spring planting can be smooth, manageable, and even enjoyable.
To explore available species, learn more about planting timelines, or find answers to common questions, browse our website or reach out to use! We’re always happy to help.