Pine Trees

thcri · Jul 30, 2005

About three years ago I transplanted about 15 pine trees. They ran between 7 and 8 feet tall. The guy that moved them for me had a spade that was a tad bit small for the trees but I was able to keep them all but one died finally last year. All of the others are doing greet except one will get new growth about 5 times a year but then the new growth will die out. Now the tree is looking sick and I think I could loose it if I don't do something with it. From my measurements it has not grown 1" since it was planted where the others probably now have grown anywhere from 6" to a foot.

I have put the fertilizer spikes on it (3 of them) each year and even have sprayed the acid on the tree itself a couple of times.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

murph

Glenn9643 · Jul 30, 2005

Realizing that we're in very different environments Murph, and my pines are probably a different variety but we planted about 300 seedlings four years ago with a dibbler and they are about 8-10' tall now. There are some "scrubby" ones in the bunch that are about 5' but they'll catch up eventually. No water or care other than mowing between them regularly.
Sounds like the root system isn't developed enough to support the top growth maybe.

EddieWalker · Jul 30, 2005

I'm no help, but thought it interesting that you "want" to save your pine trees. Here in East Texas, they are worse then weeds. Needles and sap that kill off the grass. If you don't keep the grounds and pastures mowed, pines and sweat gums will take over in a few years. Just a different perspective on them.

Good luck with your trees. If you want more, come on down, I'll give you all you want to dig out. Thousands if you want. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Eddie

woodchuckie · Jul 30, 2005

Like Glenn said, pine trees grow, They should grow at least a foot a year , not a foot in three years. Trasnplanting a 7 foot tree is a big shock to it and would need constant watering. There is no way you could get the entire root system transplanted. I would try a smaller tree in Janurary or Feburary if you can't wait on a seedling.

rozett · Jul 30, 2005

Have you checked the soil pH in the area the trees were transplanted? Most pine prefer a slightly acidic soil.

Although I have no personal experience with fertilizer spikes, both a landscaper and an arborist I know both frown on their use. They prefer not to concentrate the fertilizer in a few spots, but to spread granular fertilizer around the trees at the drip line.

Cityboyfarmer · Jul 30, 2005

( any suggestions would be appreciated. murph )

I suggest attaching a bushhog to your TC29 and running them over. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Then go to your local nursery and buy some Bradford Pear trees or dogwoods, or oaks or maples or some other beautiful, colorful trees to plant.

I look at pine trees as a crop tree. Not much use to me otherwise. We have billions of them here. But if you really like pines, just replace the sick ones with new saplings. They grow pretty fast without a lot of help.

What kind of pines are they? Here we grow primarily loblolly and slash pines. They grow like giant woody weeds, especially where you don't want them.

FL_Cracker · Jul 30, 2005

The only good pine on our place in Blue Ridge, GA is the one you are currently burning to stay warm while working out doors. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

In the last 4-5 years the beatles have killed almost every Yellow and several Whites on our property. I had the entire property logged 8 years ago and knowing what I know now I would of had EVERY pine on the place removed. The 100 or so pine trees we left are almost all dead and falling down. It's a weekly job to burn the one that fell over during the last windy day. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

thcri · Jul 30, 2005

(
I suggest attaching a bushhog to your TC29 and running them over. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

The trees were my wife's idea, running them over would be like commiting suicide?? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

And here in Minnesota most people like pines. They are Blue Spruce and I paid about $95.00 each for them transplanted. If I go to a local nursery I would pay anywhere from $300 to $500 for them. So I got a good deal on them and feel lucky that I only have lost one so far in three years. Most of my neighbors got trees from the same guy at the same time and they have lost more. But I put a lot of time in them watering and etc.

murph

arthr31 · Jul 30, 2005

blue spruce aren't pine. They are soft evergreens, and nice to look at, very nice, if growing properly. I think most people here are thinking of red and white pine which kinda grows like a weed.. I would encourage you to work with the spruce, it'll live long and give good coverage if you are trying to block an area. and, as someone has already said here, the fertilizer spikes are not good for spruce. I nearly killed an old spruce with those... so i think...

Also, the spruce will like more light, at least full light for half day to do well....and this'll depend on how they were growing before you transplanted them too (e.g. half or full light.).

Anyway, only cut a tree if you need to. Sometimes cutting a tree, or neighboring tree will help the other grow... -arthur