PLANTING / CARE Water potted trees thoroughly every 3 days if not immediately planted. Site prep is essential. Dig the hole before you remove the container and thoroughly water the potted plant before you remove it from its container. Turn the container onto its side and give the bottom a sharp tap. The root ball should fall out in one piece. Before you put the root ball in the prepared hole, cut any long roots that completely encircle the root ball and gently pull other roots away from the ball and spread them out. This will allow you to place backfill soil directly around those roots. Plant tree, backfill with soil, tamp firm with hands and water. Water regularly and add more soil if settling occurs.
Once planted, water trees thoroughly every 7 to 10 days the first year and 1 time a week during hot dry periods the second year during summer months.
Vegetation and grasses should be controlled to allow your newly planted trees to thrive. After planting, competing vegetation should be controlled the first few years. The use of herbicides is usually the cheapest and most effective way to get your trees off to a healthy start. A thin cover of mulch is fine but keep it 3 to 6 inches away from the tree trunk.
Privacy screen recommended spacing - plant 10’ to 15’ apart with rows 10’ to 15’ apart.
Why Potted Trees? Bare Root vs. Potted Trees vs. Balled and Burlap
If you are like most people you wonder, why can't I just plant a bare root tree? Or, "I want a balled and burlap tree". Well you can, but listed below are some reasons why they may not do as well.
Bare root trees are usually 1 to 2 years old. The survival rate goes down the older the bare root tree is, so planting a bare root tree older than 2 years is risky. Our potted trees are mostly 5 to 6 years old.
Planting a bare root evergreen in the field or yard is cheaper, but the loss rate typically will be from 30% to 90%. Proper watering plus animal and weed control is essential for their survival. Bare root trees need to be planted in the spring and watering every 7-10 days the first year is essential. One bite from a deer or rabbit or failure to care for seedlings the first 3 years will kill most bare root evergreens planted.
The big benefit to our potted tree is that it is older and has an established root ball. The tree has been grown in a pot, in a soilless planting medium and properly fertilized and watered. The root ball has well-established roots that are ready to spread into adjacent soils once planted.
A balled and burlap tree is a field grown bare root tree that is then dug up and the root ball is covered with burlap. These trees will be heavier than a potted tree since the soil is heavier than the planting medium used with our potted trees. The balled and burlap tree is stressed when it is dug and its roots are cut. With a potted tree the roots are not cut.
PLANTING DIRECTIONS & TREE CARE
PRIOR: Leave potted trees outside and exposed to the weather. Water trees twice per week while still in the container during April thru October. From November thru March no watering is needs.
SITE: Selection of the site is important, as most pine trees do not like wet areas. Dig your hole 3” to 6” wider than the container size and loosen the soil in the bottom of the hole. If the tree is in a fiber pot plant the tree with the root ball ending up 2” to 3” above the existing ground. If the tree is in a plastic pot plant the tree with the root ball ending up ½” to 1” about the existing ground. You basically do not want the tree to end up being in a depression and drowning out. When digging the hole get rid of the grass sod and keep all soil removed. Place all the excess soil around the tree so that the root ball that is above the existing ground is not exposed. Add additional soil if needed. Water thoroughly after planting.
CARE: During the first-year water your trees every two weeks from April 15th to October 15th. During the 2nd year water only if drought occurs. Competing vegetation should be kept away from your trees during the first few years. Be careful not to over fertilize. Water, sunlight, and the lack of competing vegetation or the biggest needs for your trees to get a good start. If you want to fertilize use tree fertilizer spikes and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.