When to plant bay laurel in New York
New York spans USDA zones 4b–7b, so the right time to plant bay laurel shifts by weeks across the state. The window to transplant seedlings outdoors runs from about April 8 in New York to May 24 in Oneonta — below are local dates for 201 cities, each computed from its own frost dates.
| City | Zone | Last frost | First frost | Transplant out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 7b | April 1 | November 19 | April 8 – April 15 |
| Buffalo | 6b | April 24 | October 26 | May 1 – May 8 |
| Yonkers | 7b | April 20 | October 26 | April 27 – May 4 |
| Rochester | 6b | April 24 | October 25 | May 1 – May 8 |
| Syracuse | 6a | April 29 | October 19 | May 6 – May 13 |
| Albany | 6a | April 27 | October 15 | May 4 – May 11 |
| New Rochelle | 7b | April 20 | October 26 | April 27 – May 4 |
| Cheektowaga | 6b | April 24 | October 26 | May 1 – May 8 |
Bay Laurel in New York: FAQ
When can I plant bay laurel in New York?
Across New York, the time to transplant bay laurel spans roughly April 8 in New York to May 24 in Oneonta, each following that city's local frost dates.
Does the bay laurel planting date vary across New York?
Yes. New York publishes 201 cities with their own frost dates, so the right bay laurel planting window shifts by weeks between the warmest and coldest parts of the state — use your city's page for the exact dates.
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