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?
them. What size do you suggest I buy and how to I prepare the area prior to
planting and correct way to plant them?
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. They
will catch up to larger plants in a very short time.
acceptable to you. I would start with five gallon plants if it were me. They
will catch up to larger plants in a very short time.
Amend the soil with about 50%
compost to a depth equal to the depth of the container. The whole should be dug
a distance 3 to 5 times the diameter of the planting container. It is more
important to dig the hole wide than it is deep. If the soil is particularly
hard to dig beneath the container then I would take a posthole digger and dig a
chimney at the bottom of the container and fill that hole with amended soil to
improve drainage.
Thoroughly soak this area
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 that is necessary.
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.
will do fine on the same valve with most of your landscape trees and large
shrubs as well as fruit trees.