Evergreen Tree Planting Instructions

See also: Evergreen Weed Control

Evergreen Growth Rates

After a year getting acclimated to it's new location, a healthy evergreen will add 8" to 16" of new growth per year. The first year's growth may be less, since bareroot trees must first re-establish their root systems before putting on new growth. It is worth noting that when you are buying a tree, you should pay more attention to the root system, not the pretty top growth. Healthy root systems support healthy growth rates, and growers often show photos of their trees' root systems to show the health and vitality of their nursery stock.

Soil Types And Planting/Hardiness Zones

As a rule of thumb, if a particular species already grows in your area, you should have great success by planting the same species. Take a drive through your neighborhood and see what types of evergreens seem to be growing well, and ask your neighbors if you can't identify a particular tree. You can also check out our Tree Buyer's Guide for a guide on what types of evergreens do well in specific zones, soil types and sun/shade environments.

General Planting Tips

Spring planting is best done just after frost leaves the ground, the weather is still cool, and lots of Spring rain is expected. Planting during hot, dry weather may cause "thermal shock", so either avoid planting in hot, dry weather or make sure the trees get adequate water. Drip irrigation is optimal but not always feasible [we'll soon have an instructional video on how to build your own DIY drip irrigation system]. To plant your trees, work a flat spade back and forth at least a foot into the ground to create a trench, scooping out any dirt that falls into the bottom. Hold the tree by the trunk with one hand and gently push the bottoms of the roots into the very bottom of the trench with your other hand, and then pull the tree back up to ground level [if necessary] to prevent the roots from curling upwards and to get the tree at the right planting height. Once in the trench, pour a quart or more of water into the trench, allow the water to drain down a bit, and then push the trench shut with your boot. Optional: to improve watering and to help control weeds, create a circular berm around the tree and fill it with half an inch of bark or mulch. The berm will concentrate drip irrigation or a bucket of water around the roots, and the mulch will help prevent weeds.

Fall Is A Great Time To Plant!

When planting evergreen trees in the Fall, the trees experience less stress during the digging and shipping process because they've gone dormant in preparation for Winter...they don't need nearly as much water and sunlight during this dormancy as during the Spring and Summer months. Fall planting also gives the trees plenty of time to become acclimated to their new environment and for the dirt to properly settle around the roots. And finally, Fall planting gives the trees a headstart because they're already planted when the ground begins to thaw. Spring is obviously a fine and popular time to plant, but Fall certainly has its advantages.

Heaving out of Fall planted trees is a concern: open ground can freeze and thaw repeatedly in the Winter during sunny days and freezing nights, and this repetitive freeze/thaw cycle can literally squeeze the roots of a Fall planted seedling right out of the ground, since the roots are not yet anchored in the soil. Transplants are virtually immune to heaving out due to their much longer root systems, even if they're not properly anchored yet. To prevent heaving out of a seedling, throw some mulch or bark around each tree to insulate any bare dirt from wild temperature swings on sunny days and freezing nights. Snow is the perfect ground insulator, and it's also free!

Desiccation [freeze drying] is also a concern: young evergreens can dry out from low humidity and high winds during the winter. Again, seedlings are more susceptible to dessication than the bigger transplants. To prevent desiccation, keep the ground damp until frost sets in, and spread mulch or woodchips as an added moisture retainer. Deep snowfall also prevents desiccation, since it covers the young trees in a stabilizing winter blanket.

Summer Planting

We don't recommend planting bareroot evergreen trees in the summer, which is why we don't sell bareroot trees during the summer. Most seedlings and transplants planted at this time of year will die quickly due to thermal shock and lack of adequate water from poorly established roots. However, plug seedlings are shipped in a bullet-shaped ball of dirt, so the roots are already established in their own little dirt ecosystem, and are ready to grow outwards into new dirt. This helps them avoid some of the problems of summer and fall planting, but they still need plenty of water throughout the heat of the first growing season.

Fertilizer

Evergreen trees don't need much fertilizer, just plenty of sunshine and water. In fact, it is so easy to kill a tree by over-fertilizing that we recommend not fertilizing unless your evergreens seem to be losing their dark green color due to a shortage of nutrients. A tablespoon of balanced fertilizer (labeled 12-12-12) sprinkled on top of the ground around each tree is fine, but DO NOT put fertilizer directly into the planting hole...this will surely kill the trees. Let water bring the nutrients to the roots at a natural pace.

Deer, Rodents and Other Pests

Deer and rodents such as mice and moles will eat almost anything when their normal food sources become scarce. Deer will snack on tender new growth, and will eat most of the tree if conditions are worse than normal. Deer are naturally terrified of coyotes, and you can buy spray bottles of synthetic coyote urine or Plantskydd online. Moles and mice can do just as much damage, but from underground, eating away the tender roots. In the spring, your trees will turn brown and can be pulled out with two fingers because there's no roots left. Regular inspections [pull lightly on a few trees] and either poison or traps are the only viable solution.

Weeds

See our evergreen tree weed control page for information on herbicides and other means of controlling weeds around your evergreen trees.

Planting in Pots

Potting is generally not as good as planting. If you choose to pot your trees, they should be watered regularly, and the pot must have a hole to allow for drainage. A sponge or rag inside the bottom will keep dirt from falling through the drain holes, while still allowing proper drainage. The pot should be white or very light in color, or must be protected from direct sunlight to prevent the pot dirt from reaching unhealthy temperatures. A light colored mulch or woodchips on top of the pot dirt will help to reflect sunlight and keep the pot cooler. For seedlings, the pots should be at least 9 inches deep, and for transplants, at least 12 inches...it's better to be a little too big than a little too small. For short term potting [such as a wedding or special occasion], you can use smaller pots. If you intend to grow them in pots for several years, consider doubling the pot size.

Seasonal Care

Your trees will finish their growth for the year around July or August. Pines can be pruned after the 4th of July, while Spruce and Fir should not be pruned until Fall. If you notice your trees are not as deep a green as they used to be, sprinkle a tablespoon of 12-12-12 balanced fertilizer on top of the ground around each tree, but let the rain or your sprinkler slowly transfer the nutrients to the roots...fast fertilizing or overfertilizing is a great way to kill your trees!

Wind Breaks and Privacy Screens

Please see our windbreaks and privacy screens page for detailed information.

Happy planting! - Rick

Additional Resources:
http://landscaping.about.com/od/evergreentrees/
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/nursery/430-457/430-457.html

A printed copy of these instructions will be included with your order.