Tree Foundation Depth Calculator

The following table provides approximate foundation depths for trees across the U.S., categorized based on regions, soil types, and frost lines where relevant:

State/Region	Recommended Planting Depth	Soil Type Considerations	Frost Line Depth (if applicable)
Alabama	2-3 feet	Clay, loam soils	Frost line < 12 inches
Alaska	2-4 feet	Permafrost, rocky soils	Frost line 60-100 inches
Arizona	1-2 feet	Sandy, well-draining soils	No significant frost line
Arkansas	2-3 feet	Clay, loam soils	Frost line 10-12 inches
California	1-2 feet	Sandy, loamy soils	Frost line varies by region (12-24 inches)
Colorado	2-3 feet	Rocky, sandy soils	Frost line 36-48 inches
Connecticut	2-3 feet	Clay, loamy soils	Frost line 42-48 inches
Delaware	2-3 feet	Loam, sandy soils	Frost line 30-36 inches
Florida	1-2 feet	Sandy soils, well-draining	No significant frost line
Georgia	2-3 feet	Clay, loamy soils	Frost line 5-10 inches
Hawaii	1-2 feet	Volcanic, loamy soils	No frost line
Idaho	2-3 feet	Rocky, loamy soils	Frost line 24-36 inches
Illinois	2-3 feet	Clay, loam soils	Frost line 36-42 inches
Indiana	2-3 feet	Clay, loamy soils	Frost line 30-36 inches
Iowa	2-3 feet	Loamy, clay soils	Frost line 42-50 inches
Kansas	2-3 feet	Clay, sandy soils	Frost line 30-36 inches
Kentucky	2-3 feet	Clay, loamy soils	Frost line 15-20 inches
Louisiana	2-3 feet	Loamy, clay soils	Frost line < 12 inches
Maine	2-3 feet	Rocky, loamy soils	Frost line 48-60 inches
Maryland	2-3 feet	Sandy, loamy soils	Frost line 30-36 inches
Massachusetts	2-3 feet	Rocky, clay soils	Frost line 36-48 inches
Michigan	2-3 feet	Sandy, loamy soils	Frost line 42-60 inches
Minnesota	2-3 feet	Clay, loamy soils	Frost line 60-72 inches
Mississippi	2-3 feet	Loamy, clay soils	Frost line < 12 inches
Missouri	2-3 feet	Clay, loamy soils	Frost line 30-36 inches
Montana	2-4 feet	Rocky, loamy soils	Frost line 48-60 inches
Nebraska	2-3 feet	Loamy, clay soils	Frost line 36-48 inches
Nevada	1-2 feet	Sandy, rocky soils	Frost line varies (<12 inches in some areas)
New Hampshire	2-3 feet	Rocky, loamy soils	Frost line 48-60 inches
New Jersey	2-3 feet	Loamy, sandy soils	Frost line 36-48 inches
New Mexico	1-2 feet	Rocky, sandy soils	Frost line 12-18 inches
New York	2-3 feet	Clay, rocky soils	Frost line 48-60 inches
North Carolina	2-3 feet	Loamy, clay soils	Frost line 12-18 inches
North Dakota	2-4 feet	Clay, loamy soils	Frost line 60-72 inches
Ohio	2-3 feet	Loamy, clay soils	Frost line 30-36 inches
Oklahoma	2-3 feet	Sandy, loamy soils	Frost line 24-36 inches
Oregon	2-3 feet	Rocky, loamy soils	Frost line 12-24 inches
Pennsylvania	2-3 feet	Loamy, clay soils	Frost line 30-36 inches
Rhode Island	2-3 feet	Sandy, loamy soils	Frost line 30-36 inches
South Carolina	2-3 feet	Loamy, clay soils	Frost line < 12 inches
South Dakota	2-3 feet	Rocky, loamy soils	Frost line 48-60 inches
Tennessee	2-3 feet	Clay, loamy soils	Frost line 10-15 inches
Texas	2-3 feet	Sandy, clay soils	Frost line 10-20 inches
Utah	2-3 feet	Sandy, loamy soils	Frost line 30-36 inches
Vermont	2-3 feet	Rocky, loamy soils	Frost line 48-60 inches
Virginia	2-3 feet	Loamy, clay soils	Frost line 15-20 inches
Washington	2-3 feet	Loamy, rocky soils	Frost line 12-24 inches
West Virginia	2-3 feet	Rocky, loamy soils	Frost line 30-36 inches
Wisconsin	2-3 feet	Clay, loamy soils	Frost line 48-60 inches
Wyoming	2-4 feet	Rocky, loamy soils	Frost line 48-60 inches

Key Considerations:

• Soil Types: The type of soil (e.g., clay, loam, sand) affects root depth. Clay soils may require less depth compared to sandy soils that drain faster.
• Frost Line: In colder climates, tree planting or root mitigation should consider the frost line (the depth at which the soil freezes) to avoid root damage.
• Climate: Warmer states like Florida and Hawaii do not have significant frost lines, allowing for shallower planting depths.