Planting Chestnut Trees - Ask Extension
We are looking to plant a 10 acre chestnut orchard. When would it be a good time to plant trees. We have acreage that is cleared and we tiled the 10 a...
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Planting Chestnut Trees #926283
Asked March 19, 2026, 9:44 AM EDT
We are looking to plant a 10 acre chestnut orchard. When would it be a good time to plant trees. We have acreage that is cleared and we tiled the 10 acres in November.
Lenawee County Michigan
Expert Response
Hi Brian:
Typically people plant tree based on when their nursery is able to ship them--in Michigan, many of our trees come from the southern US and ship in the fall and so are planted then.
That being said, in Michigan, we generally prefer plant trees in early spring to take advantage of early rains and moderate temps. I think spring planting helps trees acclimate and shut down for winter better.
Please keep in mind that we have a quarantine in Michigan that prohibits the importation of living plants and scionwood of all Castanea (chestnut) species including hybrids from Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia and any other state where chestnut gall wasp may
become established. You can read the full quaratine language at https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/pesticide-plant-pest/planthealth/chestnut_gall_wasp_quarantine.pdf?rev=6adf45ba9bc<personal data hidden>bb4b937593&hash=A83E3271758BC9316304BDC24C7DBF7A
Best
Typically people plant tree based on when their nursery is able to ship them--in Michigan, many of our trees come from the southern US and ship in the fall and so are planted then.
That being said, in Michigan, we generally prefer plant trees in early spring to take advantage of early rains and moderate temps. I think spring planting helps trees acclimate and shut down for winter better.
Please keep in mind that we have a quarantine in Michigan that prohibits the importation of living plants and scionwood of all Castanea (chestnut) species including hybrids from Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia and any other state where chestnut gall wasp may
become established. You can read the full quaratine language at https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/pesticide-plant-pest/planthealth/chestnut_gall_wasp_quarantine.pdf?rev=6adf45ba9bc<personal data hidden>bb4b937593&hash=A83E3271758BC9316304BDC24C7DBF7A
Best
