If you’ve ever stood in your backyard in July and thought, I wish there was more shade out here — you already understand the problem. By July, temperatures are pushing triple digits, the ground is dry, and the sun beats down from sunup to sundown with almost no mercy. If you’ve been thinking about adding a tree to your yard — for shade, for curb appeal, for privacy — you’ve probably looked outside, felt that heat, and thought: there has to be a better time to do this.
You’re right. There is. And that’s exactly why we created Buy Now, Plant Later.
What Is Buy Now, Plant Later?
Buy Now, Plant Later is our summer promotion designed to let you reserve your tree today — at the price you want, with the tree you pick — while we hold onto it at the nursery until fall, when conditions are actually right for planting.
Here’s how it works:
You pick your tree and purchase it now.
Come out to Alfaro Trees, choose the tree you want, and lock it in. A deposit or full purchase is accepted at the time of reservation.
We tag it and hold it for you.
Your tree gets tagged with your name and set aside. It’s yours — no one else can buy it.
We take care of it all summer long.
Our team waters, monitors, and maintains your tree right here at our nursery through the summer months. You don’t have to do a thing.
When fall arrives, you’re first in line.
Reserved customers get priority scheduling for fall
That’s it. You buy it now, we take care of it, and we plant it right when the timing is best.
Want the full details? Visit our Buy Now, Plant Later page for full details and to get started.
Why Don’t We Just Plant It Now?
This is the most important question and the honest answer is because summer planting can kill a tree.
When a tree is planted, it goes through a period called transplant shock. Its root system has been disturbed, and it needs time and the right conditions to establish itself in its new home. During that establishment period, the tree is vulnerable. It’s working overtime just to survive.
Now add 100-degree heat, dry soil, and blazing afternoon sun to that picture. What you get is a tree that’s fighting two battles at once — establishing its roots and surviving the summer — and more often than not, the heat wins.
We’ve seen it happen too many times: a customer buys a beautiful tree in July, plants it with excitement, waters it faithfully, and watches it slowly decline over the summer anyway. Not because they did anything wrong. Because the timing was wrong.
Fall is when trees are meant to go in the ground in Central Texas. Temperatures cool down, rainfall becomes more reliable, and the soil gives roots a chance to spread before the stress of another summer hits. A tree planted in October or November has the entire fall and winter to get comfortable — and comes spring, it’s ready to thrive.
That’s the whole reason this promotion exists. We want your tree to make it. We want you to love it for decades.
Why Buy Now If We’re Planting in the Fall?
Great question. A few reasons:
Selection. Our best trees don’t sit around waiting. If you see a Live Oak, Cedar Elm, Texas Mountain Laurel, or any other variety that catches your eye this summer, reserving it now means it’s yours — not someone else’s come October.
Priority scheduling. Fall is our busiest planting season, and our reserved customers are always first in line. If you wait until September to call us, you may be waiting longer than you’d like to get on the schedule.
Peace of mind. You’ve made the decision, locked in your tree, and handed it off to people who’ve been caring for trees in this region for nearly 50 years. There’s nothing left to stress about. We’ve got it from here.
The Alfaro Difference: 50 Years of Knowing This Land
Alfaro Trees has been a family-owned tree nursery near San Antonio for nearly five decades. We’ve grown up in this climate. We know how brutal Central Texas summers get, and we know exactly how trees respond to heat, drought, and the shift into fall.
When we tell you fall is the right time to plant, it’s not a sales tactic — it’s 50 years of experience talking. And when we tell you your tree is safe with us through the summer, we mean it. These trees don’t just sit in a corner somewhere. They’re cared for by our team the same way we care for every tree on our property.
You’re not just buying a tree. You’re buying into the knowledge, the attention, and the hands that have helped grow Central Texas landscapes for generations.
Who Is This Promotion For?
Buy Now, Plant Later is open to everyone — residential and commercial customers.
Whether you’re a homeowner who finally wants that shade tree in the backyard, a landscaper planning a fall install for a client, a contractor working on a development, or a property owner looking to increase curb appeal, this promotion works for you. There’s no limit on how many trees you can reserve, and there’s no dollar discount required to make it worth your while — the value is in the service itself.
How Long Does the Promotion Run?
The Buy Now, Plant Later promotion runs through September 22, 2026, the first day of fall or while supplies last. Once fall arrives and we close the reservation list, that’s it until next year.
If you’ve been on the fence about a tree, this is your window.
Ready to Reserve Your Tree?
Come see us at Alfaro Trees in Atascosa, or give us a call. Our team is happy to walk you through our available inventory, help you pick the right tree for your space and soil, and get you set up for a fall planting you’ll be proud of for years to come.
📞 (210) 622-9875 📧 info@alfarotrees.com 🌐 alfarotrees.com/buy-now-plant-later/
This is the last summer you’ll deal with no shade. Let’s make sure of it.
FAQS
Just a deposit — 50% of the tree cost, which will be noted on your invoice. The deposit secures your tree and gets it tagged and held in our care until fall. The remaining balance is due at time of planting.
We handle that part for you. Once fall planting season opens after September 22, our team will reach out to each reserved customer directly to coordinate a date. Scheduling is based on weather conditions and tree health at the time — we want to make sure your tree goes in the ground when the timing is just right.
Yes — come out to the nursery, walk the property, and pick the one you want. Whatever you select gets tagged with your name and set aside. That’s the beauty of reserving early: you get the first pick of our inventory before fall demand picks up.
We get it — plans change. If you need to cancel, your deposit doesn’t go to waste. Deposits are non-refundable, but the full amount converts to store credit that you can use toward any Alfaro Trees purchase for up to one year from your planting date.
Yes — trees planted by Alfaro Trees are backed by a 50% one-year guarantee. If your tree doesn’t make it within the first year, we’ll cover half the cost of the replacement tree. You’d be responsible for the labor and the remaining 50% of the tree cost. A couple of things to keep in mind: the warranty only applies to trees planted by our team (not self-installed), proper watering and care by the client is required to maintain coverage, and damage caused by acts of nature is not included. Warranty terms may vary, so if you have specific questions just ask us at the time of purchase.
When temperatures cool down and rainfall becomes more consistent, newly planted trees can focus on what matters most — establishing their root system. Planting in summer forces a tree to fight heat stress and transplant shock at the same time, which is a losing battle in Central Texas. Fall gives roots the entire cooler season to spread and strengthen before the heat of next summer arrives, which means a healthier, longer-lived tree for you.
