Planting trees now

[kellyc]

Okay John...
\
Why would planting the trees now kill them? The heat of the summer? Does that apply to all trees, so if I wanted to plant a tree in my backyard I need to do it in the fall? Can you find me a Fir tree?

Kelly

[Wuptdo]

Kelly,

Yes, you can plant trees now. It is better to do in the fall, but spring is ok too. The biggest problem people have planting trees is that they don't make the actual hole big enough. I have actually bent a cheap shovel digging into Cary red clay. So make the hole a little bigger, and mix in plenty of peat, manure, top soil and have at least 3-5" of mulch on top.

If you are planing on planting many trees, rent a post hole auger at the local rental store.

Wuptdo B-)

(Took out 38 tons of pine lumber out of my Person Co. chalet. Now we get to dig holes and replace with Japanese Cedars, and various flowering hardwood trees. My child labor force are not happy campers! :P

[Brent]

According to my horticultural consultant, who perhaps will post something more accurate:

- fall is definitely the best tree-planting time. Don't plant trees when blooming or leaves budding
- the hole must be TWICE AS BIG as the root ball, not only in circumference, but also in depth. Then you fill the bottom of the hole with loose soil (easier for roots to grow into) to bring the root ball soil level up to ground level.
- after planting, water, water, water (and mulch helps keep the moisture in, as Wuptdo points out)
- finally, if we wait awhile, we can get "biosolids" to mix into the soil from Cary's sludge, I mean biosolids drying plant. :lol:

Kelly, fir trees don't actually bear fur. :lol:

[Cathy]

According to my horticultural consultant, who perhaps will post something more accurate:

- fall is definitely the best tree-planting time. Don't plant trees when blooming or leaves budding
- the hole must be TWICE AS BIG as the root ball, not only in circumference, but also in depth. Then you fill the bottom of the hole with loose soil (easier for roots to grow into) to bring the root ball soil level up to ground level.
- after planting, water, water, water (and mulch helps keep the moisture in, as Wuptdo points out)
- finally, if we wait awhile, we can get "biosolids" to mix into the soil from Cary's sludge, I mean biosolids drying plant. :lol:

Kelly, fir trees don't actually bear fur. :lol:

Brent,
There are some B&B trees, like dogwoods, that are only dug in the very early spring. You will find potted ones in the fall.

Native tree varieties will have the best chance of survival.

The early fall is when you should plant in order to give plants time to adjust and start to root in before winter.
There is one caution about late fall planting especially: If the plant is dry and in dry soil before it begins to freeze in the winter, it is very susceptable to dehydration from the cold dry air.
That is why live christmas trees planted late Dec. so frequently die.

Spring is okay for some things, but the risk is from letting the plant get dried out. Prepare to water regularly throughout the summer.

When planting in clay soil, you should not dig the hole deeper than the height of the rootball. The plant should actually be on a slight intact mound of dirt in the bottom of the hole because the clay soil will hold every rain and watering like a slow draining tub. This could drown the plant.
But definitely dig the hole twice the diameter of the rootball, mix in good compost with the soil, and mulch heavily (3-5", like Wup said). Water deeply at least once a week by allowing a slow trickle of water (or soaker hose) on the plant for an hour or so. Wet the whole plant down now and then also.

For a large plant, I'd use a pick ax in this soil.

No comment on what is the best source of compost.

And pin-oaks don't have pins, either

Cathy

[Wuptdo]

I impressed with the level of "plant & tree" knowledge. Another idea is once you dug the hole, get a post hold digger and take it down another 12-24" in the center. Backfill with favorite material. This is good if you have the type of tree that has a main tap root.

Politics, gardening, what next, cooking tips?

Wuptdo B-)

[johnb]

This is key:

Don't plant trees when blooming or leaves budding

If it's potted it's fine to plant now. Not the best but it's okay.

If it's a field dug tree, ie the "big" trees people are gonna want to see replanted in that buffer they will probably be killed by being dug out now and replanted. When dormant I have literally taken Wax Myrtles, Virinia Pines, and others out of the ground just by grabbing them and pulling them up and replanted them and they've done fine. Most trees can accomodate terrible abuse, when dormant. Once they have started to bud don't disturb the roots.