Tree Care:

Caring For Trees On Arrival:  Bundles should be opened as soon as trees are received, and roots should be moistened.  Plant the trees as soon as possible.

If unable to plant upon receipt of trees, store in a cool area away from the sun and wind, loosen wrapping, and make sure trees are slightly moist by watering the moss around the roots.

When planting, either by hand planting bars or machine planting, be sure the roots are deeply secured in the ground and the soil around the trees is firmly packed.

Improve Your Planting Success: 

Following these simple steps will help improve your planting success:

Site Preparation:  Your trees will get off to a better start if you spend time prior to planting reducing or removing grass, weeds and brush.  If not controlled, these items can reduce the ability of the trees to take hold.

Decide desired end result and determine quantity of trees needed:

Christmas tree harvest:
Plant 6 ft apart (1100 – 1200 trees per acres).

Windbreaks:
Plant 6-8 ft. apart.  Divide the length of row desired by 6 or 8 and figure number of trees needed. (12-16 trees per 100 linear feet).

Reforestation:
Plant 8-10 ft. apart (500-700 trees per acre)

Ornamental plantings:
4’X5’ planting requires about 2,200 seedlings per acres.  A 5’X5’ planting requires about 1,700 seedlings per acres (1 acres = 43,560 sq. ft. – allow for access rows)

Determine tree type:  You must consider soil type, sun conditions, water drainage and other locational factors and match them with type of tree that thrives under those conditions.  Not all trees do well under all conditions.

Timing your planting:  We suggest you try to schedule delivery so that you can plant your trees as soon as possible after their arrival.  If you can’t start planting upon arrival, store the trees in a cooler or other cool area out of the sun and wind.  Open them slightly and make sure trees are slightly damp.

Plant trees properly:  Again – plant your stock as soon as possible after receipt of trees.  You can plant by hand using a heavy spade or spud, or you can use a machine.  In either case, make sure the roots are deeply secured in the ground and the soil around the tree is firmly packed.

Bigger seedlings and transplants with full root masses need special attention during planting to avoid J-rooting.  Nothing will save a tree that is poorly planted.

Site maintenance:  Be sure to control weeds with herbicides and/or mowing after planting.  The weeds compete with the trees for nutrients, moisture and fertilizer and can affect their growth if not controlled.  Discuss your options with your local chemical dealer.

Harvest time:  If you’re planting to harvest your crop, keep in mind that natural occurrences (late frost, dry conditions, disease) can all affect growth rate.  In general, the more care (fertilizer, weed/pest control, water) the trees receive, the sooner they’ll grow to a harvestable size.  The type of tree you select will also affect harvest time.