Best time to plant evergreens?

[RobA]

I just had some of my acreage cleared and wanted to plant some strategically placed evergreens. I won't be moving there for about 5 more years and wanted to get a jump on planting. When is the best time to plant? Spring? Fall? Does it matter as long as I keep them watered? I'm looking at mix of 3-5 foot cypress, white pine, arborvitae and spruce. Some in buckets, some balled and burlapped. I'm in southeast Pennsylvania.

 

[ducati996]

Now would be a good time as any - it gives the trees enough time to get the roots going and helps get the tree established before the heat comes on in the summer.

You will require water for these trees in order for them to thrive. Arborvites need water frequently. Its a tree that needs the perfect amount of water (not to little or too much) but it still needs frequent water. The other guys can do with less, but they still need it.

 

[goaliedad]

I was always told to plant trees in any month with an R in it- Not in MAY:June;July, August. Makes sense to me- not in the hotter, drier months.
Far from a pro, but the old wives tales usually make sense.

 

[ducati996]

I was always told to plant trees in any month with an R in it- Not in MAY:June;July, August. Makes sense to me- not in the hotter, drier months.
Far from a pro, but the old wives tales usually make sense.

I think this season for everybody might be off - its been a late spring for most..

one way of defining when the season starts is having the ground temp 55* or higher for 3 days or more in a row -

 

[thatguy]

I was always told to plant trees in any month with an R in it- Not in MAY:June;July, August. Makes sense to me- not in the hotter, drier months.
Far from a pro, but the old wives tales usually make sense.

I thought that was the guideline for eating oysters? LOL

I have always tried to plant stuff in the fall, so the heat doesnt get it.. BUT if you can keep them watered regularly they should be just fine as well..

good luck

Brian

 

[saltman]

I bought some Afghanistan Pines that are doing very well in our dry climate here. It's rained less than 2 inches in the past 6 months since I planted them so I have been watering them once a week and they are growing very fast.
They were listed as drought tollerant and very bug and insect tollerant as well. They look like scotish pines. Something similar in your area would do well if you can't water them all the time. We had several nights down in the low teens this winter and they did fine, it may sound funny but some pine trees actually can't tolerate cold weather. I have a Monterey pine that is hanging in there but not doing near as well.

 

[thcri]

I was always told to plant trees in any month with an R in it- Not in MAY:June;July, August. Makes sense to me- not in the hotter, drier months.
Far from a pro, but the old wives tales usually make sense.

I heard that was for prunning. I will plant a tree any time of the year as long as there is no frost in the ground. If in the middle of summer make sure you water them good with a trickle hose.


murph

 

[ToadHill]

If you are planting in an area where it will be hard to get water to them, buy a little planting gel and sprinkle a little of it in the hole. It will expand as it takes up water to 200 times its manufactured size so you don't need a lot.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Fall is best, spring is just fine, summer is to be avoided unless you can water them a lot and even then isn't a great idea.

Are deer an issue in your area? Arborvitae are candy for deer, at least around here. Most spruce are susceptible to deer damage also; white pine somewhat less, but still some. If deer are abundant I would highly recommend putting little fences around each tree. I'm planting 100+ trees this coming weekend and (unfortunately) we will be doing fences for all. Of course we do have multiple herds of 20+ deer each running around our area.

 

[opus-vw55]

I have planted and transplanted a couple hundred white pines and norway and blue spruces in the past 8-9 years on my property. I found that if I planted them before the new growth started in the spring or late in the fall after the tree went dormant I didn't have to remove it again because it died. The trees I moved when the weather was nice needed more attention ie. water throughout the first year or so, and the survival rate wasn't as good. Good Luck.................................