Why autumn planting often kills peaches and apricots

Planting peaches and apricots in autumn is often a gamble that gardeners lose, especially in regions with harsh winters. The biological clock of these heat-loving stone fruits doesn't align with late-season transplantation; by the time the roots attempt to establish a connection with the soil, the ground begins to freeze. The result is often a row of dry branches by spring, as the young trees fail to adapt before the winter dormancy hits. The primary issue is a critical lack of time. A sapling planted in late autumn exhausts its limited energy reserves trying to anchor itself in cooling soil. For a tree to survive winter, its tissues must fully mature and harden. If freezing temperatures arrive before root establishment is complete, the plant remains vulnerable—not only to the cold but also to rodents, which target the bark of stressed, unprotected young trunks. "When a sapling is placed in cold soil, the root system cannot absorb necessary nutrients. Meanwhile, freezing winds strip moisture from the upper branches. In most cases, such a tree simply doesn't wake up in the spring," explains Olga Semenova, an agricultural consultant.