Can I plant trees and shrubs two weeks before freezing temperatures arrive, or will the kill my plants?

These plants include boxwoods, shrub roses, lilacs, trees, etc. I will be ripping out old plants and this will be a complete renovation, but freezing temps will be here soon.

Can I plant trees and shrubs two weeks before freezing temperatures arrive, or will the kill my plants?
Water them in well and use a transplanting fertilizer like E. B.Stone's Surestart. Water them a few times during the winter. If you are afraid of the frost or if they are particularly cold, things could be damaged, but usually the roots are insulated. Mulch well when you plant. If these things are hardy in your area, it should be a fine planting time. Then the roots will grow and in the spring everything will perk up. Also check out the information at your local nursery, those people are trained to guide you through the installation of your plants.
Reply:Two weeks is cutting it close... I would say to try and plant at least a month before the first frost. However, I did plant 20 arborvitae in early November last year and we only lost two of them. I would make sure to mulch them in heavily to help protect the delicate new roots.





Good luck!
Reply:Spring is the optimal time for planting however, I have had tremendous good luck with fall planting. Make sure to cut back plant 1/3 of its growth and also trim the roots. Mulch heavily. The bushes you have planted now may already be going into dormancy so the shock of transplanting may not be too bad. I am proud to say that I have not lost one bush or tree to a Fall planting so even though it is said that Spring is best don't give up. PS Also remove any damaged branches or growth. Boxwoods and lilacs are very hardy and both of these have been some of my fall transplants. They did fine.
Reply:It is recommended that you do your planting in Spring because it stresses a new plant to go into a freeze.