- low temperatures (below 50º F)
- frost snaps
- strong/direct sunlight

How to Acclimate/Harden Off Plants and Trees
If your new plants or trees from Stark Bro’s arrive in a pot and already display tender leafy growth, then they were likely grown in our greenhouses. Here are a few steps we recommend you follow to acclimate these plants and trees (or harden them off) before planting outdoors: 1. Upon arrival, keep your plants and trees in the pots they arrived in and place them in a sheltered, shady spot outdoors – like on a back porch. Leave them there for 3-4 hours and gradually increase the time spent outside by 1-2 hours per day. Bring the plants back indoors each night. 2. After 2-3 days of acclimating your plants and trees, begin transitioning them from their shaded spot to one that provides some morning sun. Return them to the shade in the afternoon. If this conflicts with your schedule, try moving the plants and trees to an area that receives filtered sunlight instead, which is less intense than direct sun. Be sure that you still bring them indoors again overnight.- Water regularly as needed to keep the roots from drying out. If the soil in the pots is dry to the touch, then you know it’s time water. You may occasionally mist the leaves with water, since the environment indoors is drier than outdoors.
- Observe foliage daily. If signs of leaf injury appear prior to planting, move those plants or trees back into filtered sunlight and start from step #1 again. Proceed to step #2 at a later date.
- After 7 days, your new plants and trees should be able to handle the outdoor conditions, as long as temperatures are expected to stay above 50ºF. If daytime temperatures are expected to drop within the next day or so, continue to repeat step #2. Monitor your plants, and the weather, until conditions are more suitable for planting outdoors.
Please note: these are general recommendations. Your particular growing environment might require a slight variation on these guidelines, since some plants can take more time (or less time) than others to harden off. Factors like the current year’s weather, individual plants, and your location may affect the process.
When it's time to plant...
Proceed as you normally would:- Dig the planting hole so that it's wide/deep enough to accommodate the plant's root system with room to grow.
- Remove the plant from the temporary shipping pot and loosen the roots so that they can spread out.
- Prepare any soil additives you intend to use to amend the planting site.
- Gently tamp out any air pockets as you cover the plant's roots with soil.
- Water the plant well and apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch to protect the root system and suppress weeds.
Determine the Best Time to Plant »
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