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Pine trees are fresh-smelling evergreens which thrive in your yard all year round. Pine varieties require minimal maintenance in their growth, but they do require some care in the handling of their seedlings and in the preparations for pine tree planting.
How to handle the seedlings
Young pine trees come in the form of bare-root seedlings or container-grown seedlings. The bare-root type can be planted or transplanted only during its dormant season which includes November and March to April. On the other hand, the container-grown type can be planted or transplanted during the growing season. If you try pine tree planting in July or August, make sure that they are watered and shaded adequately.
When you transplant seedlings, always check that they have an intact and well-developed root system. In the preparatory stage, these roots should be kept damp but not submerged in water. If they are in burlap, remove this covering to allow roots to grow.
How to prepare for planting
Because pine trees in particular need wide, open spaces between them and other trees, choose such a site which provides just the right amount of space, air circulation, and fertile soil. Pine seedlings need constant protection from the afternoon sun, while older trees only need light to moderate shade. Some pine tree varieties thrive in wet soil while others prefer slightly damp soil, so these are considerations in choosing a variety to grow and a site to plant it in.
Prepare the site for pine tree planting by spraying with root-killing herbicide, followed up a week later with removal of weeds in the area. Use a spade to loosen and till the soil. In this way, you can ascertain how well water drains from the site and if you need to fertilize the soil.
How to plant pine seedlings
Start by digging a hole larger than the pine seedlings’ root mass. Estimate this to be three times as wide as the diameter of its root ball and no deeper than the height of the root ball itself. If you plant the seedlings more than a foot deep, the roots will lack in oxygen supply.
Fill the bottom of the hole with some topsoil rich in organic matter. Position your pine seedling in the middle of the hole and refill with topsoil gradually while adding some water. Firmly but gently pack in the soil using a shovel.
How to maintain pine trees
As was mentioned, pine trees are easy to maintain, but they do need some care along the way. This care involves some amount of mulching, watering, and pruning.
Mulching the topsoil prevents weeds from growing and competing with nourishment, and it also conserves moisture in the soil. The safest, most inexpensive choices for mulching are 100% natural wood chips or shredded bark and pine straw. Dried leaf litter is so available, but windblown leaves can be quite messy.
Pine trees only need to be watered at least once a week, except during warm weather when they require just a little more. If you have to amend the soil, use slow-release, granular fertilizers once a year either in late summer or in early fall.
Pruning will be your finishing touch to pine tree planting. You will only have to trim off dead branches from pine trees as needed. Clearing the interior and shaping the tree will restore the distinct form and scent which evergreens are cherished for.
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Author Bio Box: Patricia Wainwright
Get all the facts about trees and shrubs and gardening articles at GreenThumbArticles.com!
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