How to Transplant Blue Spruce
- Select a Site for the New Tree. Blue Spruce prefer moist, rich soil in full sun but are adaptable to other soil types and locations, says the University of California ...
- Determine Your Preferred Size. ...
- Prepare the Planting Site. ...
- Provide Adequate Moisture. ...
- Apply a Fertilizer. ...
- Prepare the Roots. ...
- Water the Roots. ...
- Remove the Tree. ...
- Transplant the Tree. ...
How do you transplant a blue spruce tree?
Repeat this around the tree. Loosen the tree in the hole and remove carefully. Dig a new hole for the tree twice the size of the blue spruce root ball size. Put the dug spruce into the hole with the ground level even with the top of the root ball.
When is the best time to transplant Colorado blue spruce saplings?
I have three Colorado Blue Spruce saplings (2-3 feet tall) and need to transplant them due to landscaping issues. What is the best time to transplant them and where can I get information about the process of transplanting them? Thanks! To cause least disruption to the tree, it is preferable to transplant when they are dormant.
Where does blue spruce grow in the US?
Native to the intermountain states of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, it is a treasured addition to home landscapes. Blue spruce grow well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 7 and transplant best as container-grown seedlings in the early spring or in the fall.
How do you plant a dug spruce tree?
Put the dug spruce into the hole with the ground level even with the top of the root ball. Back fill with soil and tamp down firmly, leaving a slight depression of about one inch around the tree for water retention. Apply a three- to four-inch layer of mulch around the tree, keeping the mulch away from the trunk of the spruce.
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Can you move a blue spruce tree?
You should try to get trees from a soil type and elevation that match the site to which you are transplanting them. Utah State University Extension Service says that success for transplanting aspens is 'fair to good'. Picea pungens (blue spruce), the State Tree of Colorado, is reportedly relatively easily transplanted.
How big of a spruce tree can be transplanted?
Tall (20-30ft) spruce trees can be transplanted but this is very expensive and large transplants recover and resume normal growht very slowly. Large transplants must be carefully monitored and tended to ensure sucess. I generally recommend planting 6-8 foot trees to ensure good transplant survival.
How deep are the roots on a blue spruce?
According to the U.S. Forest Service, blue spruce trees develop shallow roots after seed germinate, perhaps only 2 to 3 inches deep. This reveals that this tree species grows with a spreading, shallow root system.
Can you move a spruce tree?
Answer: Early spring (before bud break) is the best time to transplant evergreens. Evergreens can also be transplanted in late summer (late August to mid-September).
How do you transplant a 6 foot spruce tree?
InstructionsChoose a Location. Before transplanting, determine whether the tree or shrub likes sun or shade, as well as what its spacing and watering requirements are. ... Calculate the Size of the Root Ball. ... Dig the New Hole. ... Dig Around the Plant. ... Transfer the Plant to a Tarp. ... Move the Plant to Its New Hole. ... Care for the Plant.
What is the best time of year to transplant spruce trees?
springMost trees do best to be transplanted in the early spring before they begin to bud. However, sometimes it can be difficult to catch that short window after the ground has thawed enough to easily dig but before the evergreens start to bud. The next best time to move spruce trees is in mid August to early September.
What kills blue spruce trees?
There are three principle types of diseases that affect blue spruce trees: needlecasts, tip blights and canker diseases....All of these diseases are caused by fungal pathogens and each produce specific symptoms that can be useful in diagnosing the problem.Needlecasts. ... Tip blights. ... Canker diseases.
What is the lifespan of a blue spruce tree?
Growth and Yield- Blue spruce is apparently a long-lived tree, surviving up to 600 years or more. Diameter growth is slow; trees 10 to 13 cm (4 to 5 in) in d.b.h. may be 125 to 135 years old; at 46 to 56 cm (18 to 22 in), they may be 275 to 350 years of age (84).
Where do blue spruce trees grow best?
The Colorado blue spruce is native to the central and southern Rocky Mountains, where it is often found growing at high altitudes. This region receives most of its rainfall during the summer, with relatively dry winters.
How do you move a tree without killing it?
1:313:03How to Uproot a Tree Without Killing It - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStart at the lowest branch and wrap the twine around the tree guiding the branches upward as youMoreStart at the lowest branch and wrap the twine around the tree guiding the branches upward as you work. Not only does this protect the branches from damage during transport.
Can you remove a tree and replant?
While it is certainly possible to replant in the same spot after tree removal, doing so isn't ideal. Certified arborists usually recommend choosing a new planting site for these reasons: The soil may be stripped of nutrients essential to the growth of a sapling.
How big of a tree can you transplant?
A tree that has a 2-inch diameter or less can usually be safely moved by a homeowner within their own yard. 2 to 4 inches in diameter becomes exponentially more difficult. Above 4 inches should be handled by professionals.
How much sunlight do spruce trees need?
In the absence of direct sunlight, their growth can even be stunted. You have to make sure you select a spot that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight every day and plant your spruce there.
How tall can a spruce tree grow?
A spruce tree grows lush and green all year long and can reach magnificent heights of over 60 feet. Growing these trees either by transplanting trees or from tree soil balls is not difficult, but this can also be accomplished in other ways as well. Before you transplant find the spot in the lawn where you will want to plant the tree.
Why are my spruce trees turning yellow?
Spruce Tree Diseases. Spruces are susceptible to such disease as the lirula needle blight, which turns the needles yellow or brown. Rhizosphaera is a fungus infection that also turns the needles yellow. Spraying the tree with chlorothalonil is usually effective in treating this sort of problem.
How to keep a tree from standing in water?
Keep the area mulched and give the tree nutrients by placing fertilizer or manure near the roots. Never put the manure too close to the base of the tree.
How far can a tree grow?
The trees themselves can grow as high as 60 feet and can occupy a horizontal space of 15 to 20 feet. That is the reason you need to plant these trees as far as possible to save from possible interference from the tree to your house and weakening of its foundation by the roots.
Can you overwater a spruce tree?
Tip 3 – Don’t Overwater or Transplant too Deep. Though there are no specific sizes on how deep you must transplant your spruce tree, make sure that you don’t transplant it too deep. Also, you mustn’t overwater these naturally hardy trees which can make do with a little amount of water.
How tall do blue spruce trees get?
21 September, 2017. Blue spruce trees are slow growing evergreens that like sunny areas with moist, well-draining soil. Blue spruces grow 30 to 90 feet tall and 10 to 20 feet wide. They develop blue-green to silver-green needles. Blue spruces tolerate heat poorly, though they tolerate drought better than other species of spruce.
How to get a tree to grow out of a hole?
If left alone, they may grow in a ball instead of growing outward. Rough up the sides of the hole with the edge of your shovel. Scrape and loosen the soil so the roots will be able to grow out of the hole later. Place the tree in the hole and backfill with soil until it is half filled.
How to prevent transplant shock?
Prevent transplant shock by picking healthy blue spruce trees. Watering regularly will help alleviate shock symptoms. Prune only dead and dying branches the first year after transplanting. The needles are important in creating root growth and should be left on the tree.
Why are needles important in a tree?
The needles are important in creating root growth and should be left on the tree. Warnings. Transplant shock is usually found in plants that were not healthy, lacked enough roots, suffered from unprotected branches during transport or were planted in poor-draining or compacted soil.
Do blue spruce trees need root wrap?
Blue spruce trees are slow growing evergreens that like sunny areas with moist, well-draining soil. The seedling needs to be plante d at the same depth as the root wrap.
How tall are Colorado blue spruce saplings?
I have three Colorado Blue Spruce saplings (2-3 feet tall) and need to transplant them due to landscaping issues. What is the best time to transplant them and where can I get information about the process of transplanting them?
When should I transplant an evergreen tree?
To cause least disruption to the tree, it is preferable to transplant when they are dormant. Spring planting is best done just after frost leaves the ground, while the weather is still cool, and lots of spring rain is expected. Evergreen trees are not susceptible to a typical Spring frost like flowers and some ornamental plants. Ideally, plant trees just after the ground thaws but before the Spring showers end. In the early spring, trees are still hardened off from the winter and do not yet have tender new growth...therefore frost has no effect on them. Making the mistake of waiting to plant until after the risk of frost has passed [as you would with flowers] means the best time of year to plant a young tree has long passed. You can find additional information at: http://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/evergreen-trees-7-403/
When to Move?
- The best time to transplant Blue Spruce is late winter or early spring. You need to catch the moment when the ground has already thawed but the buds have not yet begun to push. If you transplant while the young shoots are beginning to grow, the tree may die. This will be due to inevitable damage to the root system. A second good time to transplant ...
Before Transplanting
- You should water the Blue Spruce well 1 to 2 days before transplanting. Give it at least 2 gallons of water. This will make the soil softer and stickier as a result it will be easier to dig out and the soil will not fall off the roots. Also, the spruce will accumulate enough water in its tissues to survive the transplant more easily. Be sure to dig a new hole before transplanting. When you dig …
How to Dig out?
- Start digging around the spruce along the drip line, that is, the distance from the trunk to which the lower branches extend. Use a narrow and sharp trench digging spade. The depth to which you need to dig should be at least 3 feet. Any roots that come your way have to be carefully trimmed. Then you have to move toward the center of the root system in such a way that you get a solid r…
Planting in A New Place
- Carefully place the roots in the planting hole. Remove the burlap and place the spruce so that the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil. If you bury the trunk deeper into the ground, it will eventually begin to rot. Fill all the empty space in the hole with soil and tamp it down a bit. Avoid even the slightest injury to the root system. The place where the Blue Spruce will grow sho…
After Transplanting
- After you transplant a Blue Spruce, it needs special care for the first year. The first thing to do is to water the tree with a few gallons of water. Next, keep an eye on the moisture content of the soil, and as soon as it is about 1 inch dry, water the spruce. The next thing to do is to install shade over the spruce. If it is not tall you can use a garden umbrella. For taller specimens, you will need a fr…