Can I plant evergreens in the Northeast during winter?

RobbyRob · December 10, 2011, 08:33:47 PM

I talked to someone who is willing to give up some evergreens, I want to plant them now but there is snow on the ground, ground not really frozen too much YET I am not sure if it is too late in the season to transplant a tree.
Any help?

bill m · December 10, 2011, 09:12:00 PM

How big are they? Are they B&B or are they still in the ground?

WDH · December 10, 2011, 11:24:30 PM

Generally, it is best to plant trees in their dormant season, like now. The earlier in the dormant season, the better as they get a chance to put on some root growth before Spring. December is good.

SwampDonkey · December 11, 2011, 06:14:24 AM

We plant yard trees in the spring time before the buds break for best survival. A late fall planting can result is dehydration and the roots won't grow in cold ground. I have an acre of white spruce I transplanted from thickets behind the house to an open field patch. I did it all in April as soon as the frost was about gone, they all survived. Been doing it that way for 30 years. I actually have some more to get in that area this spring. Might as well be trees as weeds, especially red osier.

WDH · December 11, 2011, 07:47:18 PM

I do not have much frozen tundra experience. What works down here might not work there with the glaciation

. Down here, there is still some root growth in the winter. I should have realized that in the winter up there, everything is froze solid.

thecfarm · December 12, 2011, 07:02:04 AM

Just like grits up here,they can't survive the winters. The ice is too think and the pipes are buried at least 4 feet deep. :D ;D

WDH · December 12, 2011, 08:18:04 AM

Grits go with shallow pipes. You do not have shallow pipes. So, if A=B, and B=C, than A=C. Transitive theory of Mathematics. So, no grits for you.

Now, I finally figured out why you do not have any grits in the pantry. Your pipes are too deep :D.

thecfarm · December 12, 2011, 08:22:14 AM

I also have something else that is deep too. :D

WDH · December 12, 2011, 08:23:52 AM

:D :D

A man has to use logic to figure out these things

.

Dodgy Loner · December 12, 2011, 10:54:48 AM

Danny, you logic seems to get more illogical with each passing day ???
:D :D :D

RobbyRob · December 30, 2011, 04:49:36 PM

Hey, I got a deal on 50 colorado spruce's and 20 blue spruces and 30 silver spruce and want to transplant them now in central upstate NY.
The winter is mild this year and they can be dug up and planted the same day so.. Can I do this now or is it too late for season since it's winter?

Jeff · December 30, 2011, 05:37:12 PM

I've merged this with the first time you asked the question. It is not nessesary to post the same question in multiple areas of the forum. If you can not remember where you happen to make a post, go to your profile, and under the ling that says profile info, click on show posts, any you will see only the posts you have made.

beenthere · December 30, 2011, 09:33:07 PM

RobbyRob
Lost near a month of Dec. now, and it might freeze up sometime soon in NY.
When are you going to plant them?

Chuck White · December 31, 2011, 09:37:33 AM

What is your location?

NY State is big and has several temperature ranges.

RobbyRob · January 01, 2012, 12:43:26 PM

Jeff is right, I did post this before. Thanks for letting me know how to check my posts.

Well I just heard we are getting single digit temps so I will wait on the transplants.

BTW When I do it, do I have to dig up the entire tap root? These trees are 6 feet high and the tap root can go that deep. If I break the tap root will the spruce's make it?

SwampDonkey · January 01, 2012, 01:51:54 PM

There is no taproot for spruce, they root shallow within a foot of the topsoil. Dig up and transplant in spring time before the buds break. Just as soon as you can dig in the ground. April'ish! They will not grow a lot for a couple years and then resume growth at normal pace depending on soil.

KBforester · January 01, 2012, 03:07:50 PM

I'd shoot for digging up the smallest trees you can find... the bigger the tree, but bigger the root ball you need for good survival rates. Most people cut them way too small and they end up stunted or dead. Watering is even more important with a large replanted tree.

Studies have shown that after a period of time (10 years or so) seedlings can surpass the height of a planted sapling.

SwampDonkey · January 01, 2012, 03:42:44 PM

Yeah I never try to transplant any spruce taller than knee high. I have to go that tall because a container seedling would die in tall grass that I plant in. Don't want to use chemicals. I planted some a couple years ago on a barn site, they all lived because they were stout seedlings and the leaders are 12+ now. I planted some red spruce container stock there and they lived but they are very slow. They are very shade tolerant, that allowed them to survive the grass and dogwood.