How To Care For An Evergreen Tree

So, you’re interested in evergreens, are you? It’s a lovely tree that has a multitude of uses. This beautiful tree can add strength and muscle to any yard or plot of land. Of course, as with any eco-friendly forest-dwelling creation, a person must have the know-how, and understand how to offer proper care for an evergreen. Nutrients, timing, and a basic understanding of the evergreen will take you far in your relationship with evergreen trees. Read on to discover how gain that insightful green-thumb knowledge.

Your first step, when you are shopping around for the right evergreen, is to pay careful attention to the root structure. You can always spend time marveling over the top growth later. Remember, it’s the unseen roots that form the foundation for any tree, a key link in its life support system. Healthy root structures lead to healthy, robust trees. It’s that simple. So, if a grower doesn’t have photos and detailed information on the root structure, it might be a good idea to keep shopping. The roots are vital to the health of all nursery stock.

The soil is where the tree lives. So this will be another primary consideration. If you take a drive through your neighborhood or the area you’ll be transplanting your evergreens, make note of the various types of trees. If you see evergreens, then it’s a safe bet, you’re in a good location to farm evergreens, or just watch them grow. A good source for determining what evergreens look like is to check out a Tree Buyer’s Guide. Your local library or Internet is resourceful tools to help you along the way.

Spring time is an ideal time to plant evergreens. Wait for the last frost of the season, when the weather is still cool. Rain, and lots of it, will benefit your tree, especially in the initial stages of growth. If you hit a dry spell where temperatures soar, the evergreen might suffer from “thermal shock.” So be wary of the weather.

To plant your tree, dig with a spade shovel, a minimum of 12 inches to create a trench. Gently place the bottom of the roots into the soil with one hand while holding the evergreen in the other. It may be a two-person endeavor. Next, pour water, a quart or more, into the trench. Let the water drain down. Then push the trench closed with soil.

Spring is not the only time to plant an evergreen. There are, however, advantages and disadvantages to fall planting. Some people choose to plant in the Fall so that the roots will be set come Spring. Open ground freezes can harm young evergreens. If the weather shifts from warm to cold, this freeze/thaw cycle can dislodge the root structure. From the other hand, transplants are less prone to being dislodged if they’ve had time to set up in the soil.

Summer planting is not recommended. Many seedlings die due to “thermal shock” and lack of sufficient water supply during dry summers.

Don’t forget to feed your evergreen. However, evergreens are fairly self-serving trees. They don’t need much fertilizer, just lots of sunshine and rain. Over fertilization is more likely to cause harm than benefit. So stay away from fertilizer and let Mother Nature do her work.

If you follow these tips, you can feel rest-assured that you’re on your way to planting healthy evergreens that will flourish for many years to come.