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LIVE BALLED & BURLAPPED

Plantings for windbreaks and screens:  You should plant at least 2 rows if space permits.  This will strengthen the trees in high winds and provide a dense border sooner.  The trees in the row should be alternated with the second row spacing.

Norway Spruce Screen	Norway Spruce	Concolor Fir

Selecting a planting site:  Generally for this use the sites are determined by what needs screened or areas that you would like to obscure.   However, one factor that cannot be tolerated by evergreens is wet sites.  Wet areas are determined by water either standing or near the surface for periods of more than a 36 hours period.  Generally these are in the spring and follow periods of hard rain.  Trees planted in these areas will either die or be blown over in the future.  Consider installing drainage ditches or making raised humps or ridges to get the tree planting above the water table. 

Selecting the species to plant:  A diagnosis of the planting site initially needs to be made as to drainage capabilities:   

1.) Well drained (dry)- generally on slopes of more than 10% and the soils are rock or shale present with no hardpan of clay. 

2.) Moderately drained (sometimes moist and sometimes dry) sites are those that do not have a hardpan of clay and will generally drain quickly when you have hard rains.  Slopes could be flat to steep, depending on the soil depth. 

3.) Poorly drained soils (wet in periods of heavy rain) generally are in low   areas and probably have a clay hardpan 12 to 24 inches below the soil surface.

You can access our species page to see the species appearance.

Norway Spruce:  This species is the most adaptable to moist sites – for good growth and appearance will tolerate all but the poorest dry sites.  It has very few problems with diseases and insects.  The growth rate is fast – following an initial establishment phase.  It has dark green foliage and retains lower limbs well.  Of all the species, except hemlock, it will tolerate some shading well.  We recommend this species for most border planting.

Colorado Blue Spruce:  Generally of silver to blue/green color with a natural self forming pyramidal shape.  Most often used as a specimen plant, but can be planted for screens or borders.  It is well adaptable to about all planting sites, except very wet.  The needles are sharp.

Concolor Fir:  The variety we are presently digging is from the “Swift Silver” source.  They are very silver / blue in color – the needles are fairly long and soft.  It is very adaptable to sites that are toward the dry side.  This tree makes a good specimen plant.  Concolor Fir has a taproot. There are few disease or insect problems.  The foliage is soft.

Douglas Fir:  Has light green foliage with soft medium length soft needles.  It is shallow rooted and is suitable to only dry or well-drained sites.  Generally planted as a border or screen, but is suitable for specimen trees.

Species NOT suitable for planting:  Scotch pine – a short-lived species with many disease/insect problems.  We have improved seed sources for use as Christmas trees.

PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS: 

1.) Dig holes about 6 inches larger on all sides than the ball.

2.) The hole should be a little deeper than the depth of the ball.

3.) Loosen the twine holding the wire together, in order that you can lift the ball out by the burlap edges.

4.) Put the ball into the hole - straighten and tuck the burlap under the ball.

5.) Then slowly add the soil you dug from the hole.  Pack the bottom edge and continue to fill.  Firm the soil as you fill the hole. 

6.) The finished depth of the top center of the ball should be a little lower than the surrounding soil line.

7.) It would be good to water the tree shortly after planting to void air pockets and provide an initial supply of water for establishment.

8.) We do not recommend mulching.

ORDERING INFORMATION

Our lifting season is April, May, September, October, and early November.

Please phone 304-257-8606 or email David for detailed prices or to place an order.