How to Care for Sapling Spruce Trees
Spruce trees provide evergreen color and shade for landscape. When planting saplings, proper care is necessary to prevent transplant shock, symptoms of which include needle browning. Some shock is normal for newly planted saplings, but a healthy, well-cared-for tree quickly bounces back and begins growing well in its new home. It takes a spruce tree one to two years to become completely established in its new site. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Cover the ground under the spruce with 2 or 3 inches of organic mulch, such as bark or wood chips. Cover the ground from within 2 inches of the trunk outward in a circle that extends 1 foot beyond the size of the planting hole.
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Water the spruce every three to five days for the first two weeks after planting, providing enough water to moisten the top 12 inches of soil. Irrigate once weekly for the remainder of summer. In winter, water only when the ground isn't frozen and conditions are dry. In the second year, water the spruce every 10 to 14 days.
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3
Weed the area around the tree weekly during the first year after planting the sapling. Remove weeds and encroaching grass so the spruce has no competition for water or soil nutrients during this critical stage.
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Stake the spruce if it begins to lean or is planted in a high-wind area. Place a strong wood or metal stake on either side of the trunk, about two feet from the base of the tree. Tie the trunk to the each stake using nylon or rubber trees ties, which do not cut into the bark as rope and wire does. Remove the ties before they begin cutting into the trunk, usually when the spruce is 1 to 2 years old.
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Tips & Warnings
Spruce trees rarely need fertilization during the first year after planting. The trees obtain from the soil most of the nutrients they need.
Some browning and needle loss is normal after transplanting.
References
- Photo Credit spruce image by DOLPHIN from Fotolia.com
