Plant buckeye in fall or early spring. Set the root flare at the surrounding soil, and leave the mature width on the tag.
Plant in fall or early spring, with the root flare at grade
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Fall, or early spring before bud break | Do not plant into midsummer heat you cannot soak |
| Stock | A young container or balled-and-burlapped tree, or a fresh nut | Do not try to move a large specimen — the taproot does not like it |
| Depth | Root flare even with the surrounding soil, or a little high on slow-drain ground | Do not bury the flare, and do not dig the hole deeper than the ball |
| Spacing | Thirty feet from structures for Ohio buckeye; match the mature width on the tag for horse chestnut | Do not crowd two large trees so air cannot move |
Fall planting lets roots take in cool soil. Early spring works if the tree is still dormant. [1] bottlebrush buckeye uses the same flare; leave room for the clump to sucker. First-season water stays on How to Grow Buckeye.
When should I plant buckeye?
Fall, or early spring before bud break. Skip midsummer heat.
How to plant buckeye
Work one hole at a time: set the flare, backfill with the soil you removed, then water to settle.
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and no deeper. Tease circling roots on a potted plant. Cut away the upper burlap and wire on a balled tree.
- Set the root flare even with the surrounding soil, or a little high on slow-drain ground. Do not set the ball deeper than it grew in the nursery. [2]
- Backfill with the soil you removed. Do not dump fertilizer in the hole. Water thoroughly to settle air pockets. If the soil sinks, add more backfill to grade — do not bury the flare.
- Mulch about two inches over the root zone, kept a few inches off the trunk. Leave about 30 ft from buildings for a large-tree kind, or the mature width on the tag.
How deep should I plant buckeye?
Set the root flare at or slightly above the surrounding soil. Do not bury it, and do not dig deeper than the ball.
Start from a nursery tree or a fresh nut
A nursery tree is the usual start for a named hybrid. Ohio buckeye also grows from a fresh nut if you never let that nut dry out.
- Collect nuts as soon as they fall. If you cannot sow the same day, store them in moist peat moss in the refrigerator. A dry nut is a dead embryo. [3]
- Sow 1 to 2 inches deep in fall, or stratify about 120 days at 41°F and sow in spring. [4]
- Cover the bed or pot with hardware cloth so squirrels cannot dig the nuts. Keep the soil moist, not soggy, until spring germination.
- Buy Briotii and other named hybrids as nursery plants. They will not come true from a random nut.
Can I grow buckeye from seed?
Yes, if the nut is fresh. Sow in fall 1 to 2 inches deep, or refrigerate in moist peat and sow in spring. Named hybrids are better as nursery plants.
If the flare is buried, lift the plant and reset it — do not pile more soil.
FAQ
Should I fertilize in the hole?
No. Backfill with the soil you removed. Fresh fertilizer on new roots burns.
Can I move a large buckeye?
Usually no. The taproot makes a mature tree a poor candidate to move. Plant a young tree or a nut instead.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] PlantNative -
https://plantnative.org/native-plants/ohio-buckeye-aesculus-glabra.htm - [2] The Morton Arboretum -
https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/ohio-buckeye/ - [3] The Ohio State University -
https://www.osu.edu/impact/life-at-ohio-state/growing-buckeye-trees - [4] Iowa State University Extension -
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/how-can-i-germinate-buckeye-seeds
This note is part of Aesculus Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors