Correct planting of conifers largely determines whether the plant will take root and what its growth will look like in the coming years. Therefore, it is worth finding out which conifers to choose for planting and what features of plants to pay attention to before buying, how to prepare a place for planting conifers and how to proceed when planting these plants. Here's everything you need to know to properly plant conifers.
Planting conifers - how to buy, when and how to plant conifers
How to buy conifers
Before you go to the garden shop, think about which species and varieties of conifers will be suitable for your garden. It will be easier for you to read the text of conifers in the garden, in which we described what to consider when choosing conifers varieties for your garden.
Conifersis best to buy in proven points of sale. Each tree should have a label with the name of the species and variety as well as information about the basic requirements. Pay attention to whether the tree you are buying is he althy, has properly colored needles, a straight trunk and an undamaged top.
The condition of the root ball is also important. We have a choice of conifers in containers, with baled and exposed roots.Conifers in containersgive the most certainty that the planted plant will survive. However, they are more expensive than those with exposed roots or ballot. If it is possible, before buying, take the tree out of the container and check the condition of the roots - avoid specimens with overgrown roots, tightly wrapping around the container and growing into the drainage holes of the container.
Ballot conifers, those whose roots are wrapped in a cloth, thanks to which the root ball does not fall apart and does not dry out. We can also meetconifers with an exposed root(dug from the ground).In the case of bare-rooted trees, it is worth paying attention to whether the roots are evenly developed and spread out on all sides. A certain advantage of buying bare-rooted conifers, apart from the favorable price, is the possibility of having a close look at the condition of the roots. However, it should be remembered that these plants require special care during planting, as their roots can be easily damaged.
When to plant conifers
Conifers in containers are usually the easiest to adopt and can be planted throughout the season, except during periods of drought and frost. Conifers sold with bare roots or baled should be planted only when they are dormant, i.e. in early spring or autumn. However, the best date forto plant conifersis late summer. Why?Well, evergreen conifers, even in winter, during frosts, evaporate water through the needles. If, during this period, the plant roots are unable to absorb water from the soil, the plant will dry out.Therefore, in their case, instead of autumn, the date is recommended at the end of summer, when their growth slows down, but after replanting, there will still be time for the root ball to regenerate a bit before the onset of winter.
Remember!
It is best to plant conifers in the period from mid-August to mid-September. Wet autumn supports the adoption of plants in a new place. However, if it is dry, water the planted trees abundantly.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that young specimens are better accepted, so I recommend that you buy a smaller tree and wait until it grows up a bit rather than overgrown immediately.
How to plant conifers
Best-boughtplant conifersimmediately after their purchase. If this is not possible, then in the case of containers and ballot trees, they can be stored for up to several weeks. In such a case, trees with open roots must be dug in a quiet place and watered regularly to prevent the roots from drying out.
Soil for planting conifers
The place for the trees should be properly prepared before we startplanting conifersIt is extremely important to remove weeds so that they do not cause problems in the future. The hole in which the tree is to be planted should be covered with compost soil. Garden peat or well-decomposed manure will also be good for this purpose. We can also use a ready-made soil mix for conifers.
Most conifers require acidic soil for proper growth. Thereforebefore planting conifers it is usually necessary to acidify the soilThis can be achieved by mixing the garden soil with acid peat in a ratio of 1: 1. Acidifying fertilizers can also be used to acidify the substrate.
When planting conifers , especially those requiring more moisture, it is worth using hydrogels. They are water-storing substances. Most often sold in the form of a powder that must be mixed with the soil.A hydrogel added to the soil will keep the roots moist and prevent newly planted needles from drying out. This is very convenient when you cannot water your garden regularly. We will achieve even better results by using TerraCottem, which contains a hydrogel, but also fertilizer and substances that improve the structure of the substrate.
If you want your conifers to be really beautiful, also use a special mycorrhizal vaccine for conifers during planting. Mycorrhiza is a mutually beneficial coexistence of plants and specific symbiotic fungi that make direct contact with plant roots. Thanks to the use of the mycorrhiza vaccine, your shrubs and conifers will take on much more easily, and in the future they will better tolerate unfavorable soil conditions and periods of drought. Read more about the benefits of mycorrhiza in the text on mycorrhiza in the garden.
Planting conifers step by step
It is best to plant conifers at the same depth as it grew in the nursery - the root neck (thickening visible on the trunk) should be level with the soil surface. The roots of the plant should hang freely downwards. If they are too long, overgrown, and their tips are rotten, we can gently trim them with a pruner. Gradually fill the hole, slightly kneading the soil. After filling the hole, water the plant abundantly. Around the trunk, especially in autumn, it is worth making a mound to protect the trunk from freezing. It is also worth mulching the soil around the tree.
