The debate over whether spring or fall is the best time to plant trees has gone on far too long. Regardless of what people in other parts of the US might say, the best time to plant trees in Missouri is, undeniably, in the fall.
Why You Should Plant Trees in the Fall in Missouri
Fall is great for transplanting trees from a nursery. Lower temperatures, better warmth retention, and fall rainfall are key factors.
Cooler Temperatures
Cooler temperatures make transplanting less stressful. When the weather is warm, the tree generates a much higher water demand, which puts more burden on the roots before they fully settle. Heat itself can also be challenging for plants that just entered a new environment.
Trees also naturally enter dormancy as temperatures drop. If you plant trees in the fall, they direct more energy toward root development instead of new top growth. This supports steadier establishment and prepares your trees for the heat and water demands of summer.
Better Heat Retention in the Soil
Soil retains heat more efficiently in the fall, ensuring a healthy, supportive environment for roots to grow. Warmer soil supports root development even when the tree above ground begins to slow down as temperatures drop. That way, your tree will root and settle over winter, giving it a strong head start when summer arrives.
Fall Rainfall
Missouri’s fall brings nice, steady rainfall. This creates favorable moisture conditions for trees, especially for the roots to grow. Since water demand and water loss are already lower in the fall than on warmer days, Missouri’s rain pattern makes this season ideal for planting trees.
However, note that supplemental watering is still needed for newly transplanted trees whenever rainwater isn’t sufficient.
Pests and Diseases
Most pests die as the weather cools, making fall much safer for new trees than summer. Pathogens also go dormant in colder weather. Therefore, planting trees in the fall means lower risks for pests and diseases.
While fall is generally the best time to plant trees in Missouri, you still need to consider each species’ transplant preferences. In fact, here are some trees that are best suited for spring planting in Missouri:
Bald cypress
American hornbeam
Ginkgo
Larch
Magnolia
Hemlock
Sweetgum
Tuliptree
Willow
Generally, the warmer spring soil and weather conditions are crucial for plants that regenerate their roots much more slowly, such as scarlet oak, flowering dogwood, and hawthorn.
Fall is the best time for planting trees and you should ensure the tree receives a desirable amount of sunlight.
What Contributes to a Successful Fall Planting
Planting your tree in the fall is only one of the many important pieces. To ensure a successful transplant, pay attention to placement, planting methods, watering, and mulching.
The list below provides you with a step-by-step guide on how to transplant a tree into your yard:
Choose the Right Location
Some trees prefer the sun, and others prefer the shade. Placement is essential to successful tree transplants. Important factors to consider when choosing the location for your new tree include mature size, sunlight, soil, drainage, moisture, and surrounding structures.
Proper Planting Method
There are several things to consider when it comes to the actual planting:
Depth: Plant your sapling at the correct depth. The trunk flare should be visible rather than buried.
Width: The planting hole should be roughly two to three times the width of the root ball.
Backfill: Fill the hole with the site’s native soil, which usually means what you dug out
Watering Your Tree
Water your tree thoroughly at planting, and keep it consistently moist during establishment. If you plant trees in the fall, moisture maintenance should be fairly simple with Missouri’s rainfall during the season. However, monitor as the tree settles in and provide supplemental watering during dry spells.
Mulching
Spread mulch around your new tree. Lay down a thin layer about two to three inches thick, and avoid direct contact with the trunk. Improper mulching can harm your trees.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it always better to plant trees in the fall?
Not necessarily. Fall planting is a recommended window that works best given Missouri’s weather, but it is not a set rule. Spring planting may be more beneficial if the tree has slower root regeneration. Ultimately, it comes down to your tree species.
2. Who can plant trees for me in the Kansas City Metro?
Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping is a trusted garden specialist serving Kansas City and surrounding areas. We can help you plant trees and also offer ongoing tree healthcare as a subscription service.
3. Can I plant during summer or winter?
We don’t recommend planting trees in summer or winter because extreme heat or freezing temperatures can put additional stress on the tree. This doesn’t mean you absolutely cannot do it. However, planting in summer and winter requires much more follow-up watering and constant vigilance.
Whether you live in the suburbs or within the city limits, you’ve probably seen many trees flowering over the past few weeks. Every year from early April to mid-May (the latest), flowering trees in Kansas City become a unique, colorful scene gorgeous enough to cheer anybody up on a bad day. Let’s take a look at 6 of the most common flowering trees in Kansas City and learn about their names and properties.
Color
Flower
Blooming Months
Crabapple
White or different shades of pink
5 petals; some may have double & semidouble (6-10 or more) flowers
April & May
Redbud
Pink or purple
Small clusters of 4-petaled T-shape flower
Early March through late April
Dogwood
White or pink with a colored tip
4 petals, diamond shape
April & May
Magnolia
White, yellow, pink
Large flowers with six or more pointy petals
From later spring to summer spending on variety
Serviceberry
White
Small, five-petaled flowers
Late April or May
Ornamental Cherry
White or Pink
Five petals with a small split at each one’s tip. Hexagon shaped.
Did you know that there are a total of 25 types of crabapple trees that can be found in the US? If we count the variations, the number can easily go over 47! Crabapple flowers usually have five petals. However, Coralbust crabapples have double or semi-double flowers that can sometimes have more than 10 petals. Crabapple flowers are usually pink, white, or dusty pink. They typically bloom in April and May.
Loose Park on the plaza, included in our list of family-friendly activities in Kansas City, features several crabapple trees throughout various areas. Can you count how many different types there are?
Although they’re called “Redbud,” the flowers are usually pink or purple. When Redbud trees are in full bloom, they look like a floating flower cloud. Redbuds are native to North American and flowers bloom on the branches in small clusters.
A variation of the same plant, called Whitebud because of its white flowers, can also be seen in Kansas City. Both trees bloom from early March through late April. Come May, you’ll find the ground covered with fallen flowers after the rain. Romantic, isn’t it?
Flowering dogwood, Missouri’s state tree, is also a popular early blooming perennial tree used in landscaping. Dogwood is resilient and can adapt to various weather conditions as long as there is enough water, which Kansas City is never short of. Most dogwood trees are 15 to 30 feet tall, but some can grow up to 50 feet.
Dogwood flowers are usually white with red tips or pink with white tips. They have four petals and open into a diamond shape. Dogwoods bloom from April through May and are often seen in people’s front yards.
Magnolia’s magnificent bloom and elegant figures make it a classic choice for many homeowners. Naturally, it is one of the most common flowering trees you’d see around Kansas City. Magnolia flowers can have single or double flowers with 6 to 10 petals on average. The color can be different shades of pink, white, and yellow.
There are several species of magnolias you’ll see locally, such as Saucer, Jane, Ann, and Royal Star magnolias. Different varieties bloom at different times. For example, Royal Stars can bloom in late winter, whereas Jane and Ann bloom in late spring to early summer. The flower of some species can reach 12” when in full bloom!
Serviceberry is a native flowering tree in Kansas City that presents small, white, five-petaled flowers. The flowers often emerge before or at the same time as the leaves do. That said, the best time to enjoy its beautiful white flowers is late April to early May. The actual berries are also edible, either consumed directly or turned into jams and preserves.
It’s difficult to find a more romantic flowering tree in Kansas City than the ornamental cherry or the flowering cherry trees. The fleetingness and delicacy of cherry blossoms have made them the symbol of young, fragile love, and their influence has long radiated out of their country, Japan.
Most ornamental cherries in Kansas City will have white and light pink flowers, although some may have a darker pink. Most ornamental cherry trees bloom in March or April, and only last one to two weeks. If you’ve missed the season this year, you’d better mark the calendar for 2026.
Spring is fast approaching, and you are ready to welcome the season of life and hope. This ultimate spring lawn and garden checklist for Kansas City homeowners will make sure your curb appeal and backyard are equally prepared for the new season. If the list feels long, don’t fret: you can always trust one of the best landscape companies in Kansas City to handle these maintenance and cleanup tasks.
Spring garden care with cleaning and pruning. Photo: Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping
General Tasks
Start with these general tasks that cover the entirety of your front and backyards. Getting them out of the way allows you to focus on specific areas of your lawn and garden afterward.
Remove Debris
Remove debris, branches, dead plants, and trash that might have flown into your yard. Not only does this immediately improve your landscape’s look and feel, it also gives you a clean ground to inspect your hardscape and softscape for maintenance needs.
Deweeding
Deweeding is one of the most tedious but necessary tasks in the spring yard cleanup. Remove weeds from your flower beds, under the trees, in your lawn, around retaining walls, and in the seams of your pavers. You can then lay down new weed barriers or spray weed repellent to prevent them from coming back.
Inspect Your Sprinklers
You should hire a professional sprinkler servicing company to inspect and service your sprinklers, especially if you’ve had a harsh winter. The inspection usually checks fixtures, electrical, and plumbing for signs of damage, clogging, and other problems.
Check for Damages on Fixtures, Retaining Walls, Walkways
Look for damage in retaining walls, walkways, patios, decks, and decorations. Repair or replace them as needed. You can DIY minor repairs but should always work with a professional for more structural issues or larger damaged areas.
Clean Your Hardscape
As part of your winter hardscape maintenance, you should’ve resealed your hardscape if needed. This makes spring cleanup really simple. Start by blowing off hard surfaces to remove any leaf litter or debris. You can also hose down your decks and patios or use a pressure washer for a more thorough cleaning, and your hardscape will be shiny as new. However, if your hardscape has extra details or complicated surfaces, it would be best to hire a professional cleaner for the job.nance task yourself.
Our team maintains plant health for our landscape maintenance clients, including cutbacks, pruning, and trimming. Photo: Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping
Garden and Plant Checklist
Your garden beds might need the most work depending on the complexity of your landscape. However, proper cleanup of garden beds before spring can help ensure beautiful, healthy plants in the later season.
Cutback Perennials & Grasses
By early spring, most of your perennials should be sprouting. This tells you how far to cut them back. For early-blooming perennials, you might be able start the cutback as early as February. Be sure to wait until you start to see new leaves sprouting so you don’t overcut and kill your plants!
In the meantime, don’t forget you also need to cut back ornamental and sedge grasses. However, since each grass is different when it comes to the length to cut back to, depending on its variety and age, it’s best to hire a professional landscaper to handle all cutback tasks.
Check for Damages on Plants and Trees
Check for damage on plants and trees and decide your next steps. Most damage to trees should heal naturally with minimal intervention. However, if any large branches (or trees themselves) are at risk of falling, they should be removed immediately. Damaged plants that are beyond rescue should be replaced with new ones.
Mulch
Compared to weed barriers or chemical sprays, installing or replenishing mulch in your flower beds is a healthier way to prevent weeds while providing essential protection for your vulnerable plants. It also retains moisture for your plants that will be well-received in drought conditions.
Fertilize Flower Beds
Make sure your flowers have enough nutrients to feast upon by fertilizing your flower beds. Fertilizers should be added after new growth is observed, but not when there is still a significant risk of snow. For the Kansas City metropolitan areas (zone 6b), mid-March would be your safest bet for fertilizing. Fertilize your beds when the soil is moist, such as right after a light rain, and during the cooler hours of the day.
Plant Seasonal Flowers
If you’re starting your flower bed from scratch this year, you can start gathering flowers before spring arrives. Kansas City has a wide variety of local nurseries and plant shops that carry ready-to-plant spring plants. You can also start from seeds, although that will take much longer. Before flowers bloom.
Lawn care in spring is crucial to ensure you have a lush, green lawn once the temperature warms up. Photo: Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping
Lawn Care Checklist
The perfect, lush lawn takes love and diligence. We recommend working with a lawn care professional for your ongoing service needs. However, if you’d rather perform the pre-spring checkup yourself, here are the basic tasks you should cover.
Seed Bare Patches
Nobody likes a spotty, bald lawn. That’s why you should seed any bare patches once you notice the unevenness in your lawn. There are many brands of pre-mixed repair packages that already come with seeds, fertilizer, and mulch.
Note: Be careful applying any pre-emergents in areas with new seed as it will counter act your efforts.
Mow Down the Grass to Approx. 3 Inches
Mowing your grass down can stimulate healthy root growth, and in-return keeps your lawn greener. It also prevents the grass from shading the soil, which can lead to more aggressive weed growth.
Fertilize Your Lawn
Avoid fertilizing and seeding at the same time. Instead, the best time to fertilize your lawn is determined by the type of grass you have. Kansas City’s weather allows a variety of cool- and warm-weather grass to grow. A fail-safe rule is to fertilize lightly in early spring.
When the weather isn’t suitable for softscape landscaping, it’s often a good chance to work on your hardscape projects. And what’s a better place to start than thoroughly inspecting your existing structures? In this winter hardscape maintenance guide, we’ve listed out the things to look out for on your patios, pools, and decks so you can catch problems early for repairs.
Our team often works on patio construction projects during winter when softscape work is not feasible.
Maintenance Checklist for Patios
What about your patios? Whether they serve as an outdoor kitchen or just a place to hang out and chill, patios often take a lot of wear and tear throughout the year. Here are what to look for when you check your patio for maintenance needs:
Pavers: Check your pavers for cracks and discoloration.
Flooring: If you have a wood patio, check for squeaking floors and loose boards.
Furniture: Look for damage on any patio/porch furniture.
Structure: Inspect the woodwork around your patio for signs of structural damage. This is best done by a pro.
Drainage: Have a pro inspect the drainage system at least once a year.
Roof: Hire a roofer to inspect your patio roof for any damage.
Winter Patio Maintenance You Can Do Yourself
While more in-depth maintenance and repair should always be done by an outdoor structure contractor, you may consider doing some of the easier tasks yourself:
Sweeping and Cleaning: First, sweep and clean your patio of all leaves and debris. Then you can hose-clean or pressure-clean your patio yourself. However, if your patio needs resealing, it’s best to hire a professional.
Gutter cleaning: If you feel comfortable working at heights, it’s not too hard to clean the gutters yourself. However, a pro can tell you if anything is wrong or needs repairs.
Covering up the furniture: While you don’t always have to move patio furniture indoors during winter, you should cover it up with weather-proof tarps for protection.
Repainting: If your patio has painted areas, you can repaint any discoloration or chipped paint yourself.
Maintenance Checklist for Pools
While most maintenance work for swimming pools should happen weekly and monthly, it doesn’t hurt to do more in-depth examinations during the winter season. Also, winter is the perfect time to revamp or build a new inground pool if that’s been on your mind for a while.
Pool Deck: Look for significant damage like missing pavers, cracked surfaces, broken stones, etc.
Pool Basin: Looking for cracks, dents, failing surface finishing, and other signs of major issues.
Water Features: If your pool comes with fixtures like fire bowls, inspect them to make sure they are functioning properly.
Mechanics: Have a contractor check your water pump and other mechanics.
Filter: Check your chemical filters and add new ones, especially if you haven’t done so during pool seasons.
Winter Pool Maintenance You Can Do Yourself
While swimming pool maintenance can be labor-intensive, you could opt for doing it yourself if you are comfortable with the work:
Cleaning: Before you put your pool back into use, thoroughly clean and disinfect it.
Check water balance: Ensure the pH and other water parameters are within proper ranges.
Put in new filters: If you didn’t do that in the winter, you’ll likely want new filters before the weather warms up again.
Cover up: Cover your pool and any decorative water features not in use to protect them through winter.
Our team often builds decks and other hardscape during the winter.
Maintenance Checklist for Decks
Look for clear signs of damage on your decks, including broken pavers, cracked wood and beams, obvious leaning and tilting, etc. If your deck is properly sealed, you likely only need to do a quick cleaning before spring comes. Every 2 to 3 years, you should hire someone to reseal your decks. You should also check your deck drainage system to make sure it is functioning properly before the spring rain season. If your deck includes an outdoor kitchen, you might want to have all the equipment inspected before putting it back to use in the Spring.
A newly constructed retaining wall by Royal Creations Architectural Landscape in 2026 Winter
Maintenance Checklist for Retaining Walls and Pathways
Retaining walls and pathways are both essential elements in your landscape, offering structural and aesthetic values.
For retaining wall maintenance, look for clear signs of soil movement and physical damage to the wall. Check for missing rocks, chipped surfaces, and any clear signs of leaning and erosion.
For pathway maintenance, first confirm you don’t need to reseal your pathway. Then, look for fading and discoloration, lost sand between pavers, and surface damage. If everything looks normal, you may only need to do a thorough cleaning of your pathway before the spring.
Should I schedule hardscape construction in the winter?
Contrary to popular belief, winter is actually a great time for hardscape construction in Kansas City and around. As long as the weather permits, you can easily work on new construction or upgrade existing outdoor structures. If you can get everything done during winter, you’d be able to enjoy your outdoors to its fullest once the weather warms up.
Shrubs come and shrubs go, except for the hardy ones. Hardy bushes are amazing landscaping elements for most homes in Kansas City since many of them are evergreen. Others present different visual elements throughout the year, transitioning from lively shrubs to colorful blooms. If you’re considering adding some hardy bushes to your landscaping, here are our top 8 favorites to choose from.
What are Hardy Bushes
Most hardy shrubs are perennials, but not all perennials are equally hardy. Hardy bushes are known for their resilience against temperature and weather conditions, and are generally low-maintenance.
Kansas City’s weather has two extremes: high temperatures during the summer, accompanied by excessive storms, and low temperatures during the winter, with or without snow. This type of weather poses significant threats to your plants.
With hardy bushes, you can ensure your landscape is never completely bare and lifeless, even during the highest heat or the freezing winter.
How to Choose Hardy Bushes for Landscaping
Hardy bushes come in various sizes, shapes and colors. Some are early blooming perennials, others may change color drastically throughout the year. To choose the best species for hardy bush landscaping, consider the following elements:
Mature size: Some hardy bushes can expand rapidly, making them less suitable for those with a small backyard.
Height and shape: The bush’s height and shape determine where it fits best in your landscape. Taller bushes can be used as edging or separators, and lower bushes can be used as accents under larger trees or along water features.
Texture: Some hardy bushes have a rigid, hard texture, whereas others may look smoother.
Growth Habits: Some bushes may take a longer time to mature. They also have specific temperature requirements to reach their prime.
Colors: Some bushes change colors throughout the year, while others may remain green. You should also be mindful of their flower color to create the most harmonious landscaping in your yard.
What is Kansas City’s Hardiness Zone?
The USDA Hardiness Zone System categorizes different regions according to their average annual minimum temperatures. This zoning helps you identify what plants will thrive in your area.
Kansas City is in hardiness zone 6a, with an annual minimum average of -10°F to -5°F. In the zoning system, the smaller the number, the harsher the condition. Therefore, any plants that can survive a hardy zone of 6 or below will do well in Kansas City.
Boxwoods
Boxwoods are a staple in the landscaping industry and are the number one selling plant for landscapes. Originally from Europe and Asia, many varieties of these shrubs are available. They are all evergreen and grow into a dense, thick shrubs. Our favorite varieties are Green Velvet and Graham Blandy. Both are very hardy, especially when established. The first winter is the most challenging, so make sure they are watered correctly. As a bonus, they are deer resistant.
Green Velvet
Green velvet boxwoods are low, round shrubs great for small hedges. The dark green leaves hold their color all year. In the spring, light green foliage and white flowers make an appearance. These naturally rounded shrubs can be pruned into any shape you want.
Graham Blandy
Graham Blandy boxwoods are tall, skinny-shaped evergreen shrubs that are great for flanking entryways or for screening air conditioners and meters. They are a wonderful accent shrub in the landscape to create some height in tight spaces.
Fine Line Buckthorn
Fine Line Buckthorn is a great woody shrub for entryways and screening meters or air conditioners or even summer privacy around the pool. It is deciduous, so it will lose its leaves in the fall. However, buckthorns have a light, airy texture and are a little bit softer than boxwood. They are also less maintenance than tall boxwoods. The leaves become yellow in the fall before dropping off for the winter.
Spirea
These super-hardy shrubs are great for bringing interest to a spot in your landscape. They are rounded and have very nice flowers. Spirea is deciduous, so it will lose its leaves in the fall. Their flowers attract bees and butterflies. Our two favorite varieties are the Double Play Doozie and the Gold Flame.
Double Play Doozie
This modern cultivation is a showstopper at all seasons and can thrive from Zone 3 to 8. Its deep red foliage emerges in early spring, and flowers begin to form in late spring. The flowers vary from deep red, bright magenta, to violet-pink and glowing purple. Since the Double Play Doozie is seedless, all its energy is directed towards flowering throughout the year.
Gold Flame
The leaves of gold flame spirea are bronze-tipped in the spring, then turn yellow-green, and then turn red in the fall. Clusters of red flowers appear in the summer. Gold flame is a super hardy shrub.
Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bush is a deciduous shrub with long, narrow, sage-green leaves and numerous flowers. The colorful, cone-shaped flowers bloom in the summer, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies in swarms. Butterfly bushes come in many colors, from pinks and purples to dark purple.
Our two favorite variations are:
Pugster Butterfly Bush: known as the bluest blue of all butterfly bushes and comes with a honey-like scent; suitable for hardiness zone 5-9.
Miss Molly: the closest to red of any butterfly bush; a fun summer shrub that looks good in any landscape.
Hydrangea comes in various sizes and styles and is loved by many for its wide variety and rich, abundant appearance. Most hydrangeas can thrive in hardy zones 5 and 6, with some varieties that can survive temperatures as low as zone 3. Hydrangea flower’s colors vary depending on the soil’s acidic level.
Hydrangea macrophylla Let’s Dance Blue Jangles
Let’s Dance Blue Jangles is a medium-sized shrub. The color of the flowers can go from solid green to fuchsia to pink-lime to violet blue. When people mention hydrangeas, this is usually the type they are referring to. These yield lasting summer blooms and rich foliage.
Hydrangea quercifolia Alice
Hydrangea quercifolia, commonly called oakleaf hydrangea, features an upright form with broad-rounded, suckering, and multi-stemmed shrubs. They typically grow between 4 and 6 feet tall, although some may grow up to 8 feet tall under the right conditions. Most Alice varieties grow around 5 to 6 feet and bloom white flowers in summer.
Hydrangea paniculata QuickFire
Paniculata hydrangeas are the hardiest and can thrive even in hardy zone 3. These hydrangeas have arching upright branches topped with large, cone-shaped flower heads. Paniculata hydrangeas like full sun, well-draining soil, and are very low maintenance. The blooms start off creamy white in early summer and gradually turn into different shades of pink or pomegranate red.
Photo: Chic Charlie Photography
Dogwood
Dogwood is generally hardy and the many species of dogwood’s hardiness varies from zone 2 to zone 10.
Flowering Dogwood
Flowering dogwood is one of the most common flowering trees in Kansas City. They are typically between 15 and 30 feet tall with pointy petals that are white or pink. Flowering dogwood thrives in zone 5 or higher.
Red Twig Dogwood
Officially known as “Cornus Arctic Fire,” the red twig dogwood is one of the hardiest dogwood variants and can thrive in hardiness zones 3 and above. Red Twig Dogwood is loved for its dark red stems, which truly look like burning flames, especially one your yard is covered with snow.
Crape Myrtle
Crape myrtles come in various heights. In the south, they can grow even bigger, as you see in the image above. In Kansas City, they tend to stay under 8’-10’ because of our colder climate. Crape myrtles leaf out in late May or June and have bright flowers in pinks, purples, and reds. They shed their thin gray bark, which adds texture and interest to your landscape. Crape myrtles often have multiple trunks.
Do not give up on your crape myrtle plants in early spring, as they often don’t come out until late. Water them deep in the fall and protect them in the winter, and they will be a hardy showstopper in your garden. They are also great substitutions for roses if your roses tend to suffer from pests and diseases.
Ninebark
Ninebark has a nice, rounded form with small white flowers that appear in clusters in the late spring. After the flowers, red capsules appear, which turn brown in the fall and remain throughout the winter. Ninebarks have green leaves with red highlights. The leaves turn yellow in the fall. The bark of the ninebark peels off, showing layers of bark that are reddish to light brown, increasing the shrub’s interest. Our favorite varieties are Amber Jubilee and Coppertina.
Amber Jubilee
The leaves are red to purple when they grow in the spring. In the fall, the leaves turn yellow, orange, purple, or red before falling off for the winter. The flowers are white with yellow centers. Amber Jubilee was named to honor Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee.
Coppertina
Coppertina has copper-orange leaves with soft pink flowers. This shrub makes a dramatic specimen or an excellent hedge. Coppertina is drought-resistant once established. This is a good shrub for problematic areas in the landscape..
