Q.
Two of my Italian Cypress trees died so I am replacing them. What size do you
suggest I buy and how to I prepare the area prior to planting and correct way
to plant them?
Two of my Italian Cypress trees died so I am replacing them. What size do you
suggest I buy and how to I prepare the area prior to planting and correct way
to plant them?
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| Italian Cypress |
A.
Get the smallest plants you can find if that size is acceptable to you. I would
start with five gallon plants if it were me. If I can find 1 gallon plants, I
would plant them. If they are well cared-for they will catch up to five, 15
gallon plants and even larger in just a short time.
Get the smallest plants you can find if that size is acceptable to you. I would
start with five gallon plants if it were me. If I can find 1 gallon plants, I
would plant them. If they are well cared-for they will catch up to five, 15
gallon plants and even larger in just a short time.
Amend
the soil with about 50% compost and to a depth equal to the depth of the
container. The soil should be modified a distance 3 to 5 times the diameter of
the planting container.
the soil with about 50% compost and to a depth equal to the depth of the
container. The soil should be modified a distance 3 to 5 times the diameter of
the planting container.
It
is more important to amend the soil on the perimeter of the container than the
soil below the container. However, and this is a big however in our soils, if
the soil is particularly hard to dig beneath the container then I would take a
post hole digger and dig a chimney at the bottom of the container and fill that
hole with amended soil to improve drainage.
is more important to amend the soil on the perimeter of the container than the
soil below the container. However, and this is a big however in our soils, if
the soil is particularly hard to dig beneath the container then I would take a
post hole digger and dig a chimney at the bottom of the container and fill that
hole with amended soil to improve drainage.
Thoroughly
wet the amended soil several times after you planted the trees. Five gallon
plants should not need to be staked. With improved drainage they should be able
to handle more frequent irrigations without problems.
wet the amended soil several times after you planted the trees. Five gallon
plants should not need to be staked. With improved drainage they should be able
to handle more frequent irrigations without problems.
If
soils do not drain freely you will have problems with these trees in future
years. Fertilize them once in January or February with an all-purpose tree and
shrub fertilizer.
soils do not drain freely you will have problems with these trees in future
years. Fertilize them once in January or February with an all-purpose tree and
shrub fertilizer.
Put
them on a valve with other trees and shrubs. They will do fine on the same
valve with most of your landscape trees and large shrubs as well as fruit
trees.
them on a valve with other trees and shrubs. They will do fine on the same
valve with most of your landscape trees and large shrubs as well as fruit
trees.