Quick question for Ken

16 years ago

Ken,

So I'm in the process of getting my order squared away with Forestfarm ... and they seem really accomodating and honest.

I'm ordering only evergreens ... all 5 gallon sizes.

My question is: should I order them to arrive soon, so I could plant them soon (before the spring flush as you say) ... or wait till all risk of snows has past here?

I suppose another negative of waiting is that the shipping on warm weather could likely be (potentially) worse than shipping now (during a cooler period).

The average low in April here is 30 ... so freezing is possible, but not a daily occurance. The average in May is above freezing and zero to 1 snow storms is the norm.

So I either take your advice and order for April or wait till mid May.

I'm leaning towards an earlier arrival ... and just get them in the ground in by the second week in April.

Please advice if you have time.

You'd be proud -- nothing from hardware store has been bought this year!

Thanks,

Scott

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Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
ken who?
Embothrium
16 years ago
It's better if you say what your post is about in the thread title and don't address questions to specific individuals.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
ok .. just kidding ... lol

i would like everyones opinion ... god knows i dont know everything ...

my key: dormant to dormant is just fine .... hold it over in your garage for a week or two ... get them in the ground .... there can be no expanding buds in the great white north ... or hold them on the north side of a building ... lay them on their sides if wind is an issue ... upright is irrelevant until spring growth starts ... no issue of sunburn.. since new tissue isnt there ...

bringing ACTIVELY GROWING stock up north [from a warmer zone to a colder zone] .. it needs to be tempered to the temps ... aka 'hardened off' ... before it ever get frosted or frozen ... UNTIL ALL FROST THREATS ARE GONE ..

in fact.. these would be better off being held over near a garage ...where you can drag them in if temps threaten to go too cold .... temp outside is irrelevant since the structure wil be 2 zones warmer from retained heat ...

you should contact your vendor.. and find out what the sun situation was ... if you are bringing in product that has been in polyhouses ... they will need to be hardened off to the sun ... if actively growing ... think of my freckled red-headed son ... and how his skin takes to the first sun of summer ... once he hardens off .. lol .. he doesnt burn ... lol

if damp on arrival .. do NOT water ... in cold temps.. they need very little water.. if dormant ... tend toward dry rather than sopping wet .. the pot will NOT dry out in z5 for months ...

NEVER leave a black pot in the sun .. period.. paragraph ... the last thing you need is 100 degree roots from the sun hitting the black pot.. on a tree thats sits in 30 degree weather ....

snow should be irrelevent ... but for remaining upright ... its just water ...

normal wind should also be irrelevent ... if properly staked ..

dont complain about damage ... trees/conifers.. if they live .. fix themselves ... we can deal with all that later ...

4/1 to 4/15 in my zone 5 ... plant them all ...

NEVER WATER AGAIN .. AFTER PLANTING... until your second knuckle tells you they are dry .. might not be until june ... mulch them within a few weeks ...

i think that covers it.. in bullet form ...

ken
bunkers
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Ken. I know I shouldn't have posted your first name in the subject, but you have been extremely helpful to me in the past and I wanted your opinions. Thanks.

I have decided to move up my shipment date to 4/4 per your advice. I planted ton of trees last year on 4/17 and they endured 3 snow storms ... and nothing died. Those were leafed out desciduous trees ... whereas this time around, I'm only going with conifers.

Forestfarm has been fantastic in terms of flexibility and inegrity thus far. I'll send some pictures are what I ordered when they arrive.

Thanks!
Scott