How to Plant Black Hills Spruce Trees
The Black Hills spruce, named after the hills of its origin in western South Dakota, is a hardy evergreen with thin, blue-green needles and narrow cones. The tree can flourish in disparate conditions. It is often used in landscaping, to line driveways or serve as windbreaks, and has also become popular as a Christmas tree, due to its consistent conical shape. Here's how to plant Black Hills spruce trees. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Dig holes that are two or three times larger than the root balls, the mass of roots and soil at the base of the plants.
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Mix the extracted soil with fertilizer. Do this on the side, not in the hole. For transplanting, some spruce-lovers recommend lobster compost made by Coast of Maine; others trust Tree Saver made by Plant Health Care. These are just two of many possible fertilizer types.
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Bring over the water hose and moisten the mix.
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Now remove the burlap sacks or containers from your trees, and lower the trees delicately into their respective holes, making sure not to break apart the root balls. The root balls should rest about an inch or two above the surrounding earth (known as the "grade").
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Fill the holes with water, covering the roots, and then let it drain into the surrounding soil.
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Pitch the soil/fertilizer mixture into the holes, covering the root balls and making sure the trees are straight. Try to create raised rings of soil around the trees to help them keep in water.
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Add 2 to 3 inches of bark mulch atop each newly planted base. This will help retain moisture.
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Keep the soil moist for the first two weeks. This is the most delicate stage for the transplanted Black Hills spruces, and they require moisture. After the first two weeks, water about once a week. When in doubt, touch the soil---if it's dry, water it.
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Tips & Warnings
The Black Hills spruces will grow in varying conditions, doing well in Planting Zones 2 through 6. They like full sun but can withstand cold and can even cope with dry soil. You can plant the spruces almost any time of the year, though it's best not to plant just before winter. Planting toward the end of summer or early fall will give the young trees and their roots time to adjust to the change and increase the odds of a healthy transition to their new soil. Before spring growth begins each year, fertilize your Black Hills spruces with a general-purpose fertilizer.
Do not remove the trees from their burlap sacks before you are ready to put them into the ground. Doing so could dry out the delicate root balls.
