It must be exciting (it would be for me) to have that many trees at that height, instantly... Really looking forward to your pics. You know I would forget the drip system (they're not as easy as people think to maintain- emitters get clogged, there a lot of work to put together- but I will defer to those that are more versed in them than I) ...I would recommend each tree has (2) 5-gallon buckets on each side - (your trees are large, other people (1) bucket is enough) with either one brick or a decent size rock in each. You drill a 1/16 hole or ~, in each bucket and come thru with a hose and fill each bucket a few times a week. Keep the buckets clean so they don't get clogged. Living in the country (Me) I have dust and dirt flying around. Put the drilled hole(s) near but not at the trunk and over the course of the summer bring them back away from the trunk say an inch per week. I'd start off with the holes 6" away from the trunk. You can find buckets at bars, restaurants, etc-. You want to keep the soil moist all summer so you may need to go 3x. I'd do 2x starting now per week. Congrats man. I'd be stoked. This is like the best birthday present ever in my mind. Dax

I'd be a happy girl if my trees came out looking anything like that (on a smaller scale, of course!) I've ordered 30 Norway Spruce, 20 Colorado Spruce and one Crabapple to help with the kitchen window situation. I changed the plan a little, and will now be doing a large "L" of trees along the north and west sides of the lot, instead of just the north side. I am going to keep looking for a third variety that the road salt won't kill, but with just these 2 kinds, would you mix them up somehow or put all the Norways on the outside, or all the CBS on the outside? I have never planted anything more than one of those Christmas "plant in a box" things and really appreciate all the tips. Thanks!

OK, I got you Ed. As for Abies c. it seems quite variable. Some shape up beautifully around here and retain good form, fullness, and color well into old age. Others seem to suffer from some soil-based issue, perhaps a localized pH anomaly. Another thing that I gradually realized-I've been a fan of Abies concolor for a looooong time-is a certain tendency towards double and even triple leaders at a certain point, usually around twenty feet or so up. Not sure if an insect is attacking the leader, a la white pine shoot tip moth on Norway spruce and white pine-or some other factor causing this, but it is common. When everything goes just right, lol, a great conifer. In my city, there is one which must be near 100 ft. in height. Very narrow form. About balsam fir-in my part of this state, it never occurs naturally in forests. Yet just one county north, it begins to show up and quickly becomes what some foresters consider a "weed tree". That description aside-and it really has to do with the fact balsam fir wood isn't used for much, not any aesthetic characteristics-the ones that people undoubtedly bring home from their cottages and whatnot up north do surprisingly well here, again even though nature did not place them here. I'm in Outagamie county in WI, if anyone cares to look up what I'm talking about. The next county up-Shawano (pronounced shaw-no) is full of balsam fir. Soils there are sandier than here and I suspect that characteristic has much to do with its distribution, along with pH of said soils. Balsam fir is very tolerant of downright wet soils too btw, and is among our most shade-tolerant conifers. +oM

rfazaf, Yes it is the A.K ' Golden Spreader' by the wall. It can take afternoon sun til sunset with no burning because it is a mature plant. For the smaller size it will get burnt a bit by by afternoon sun, but after it acclimates to the soil and sun condition it will do just fine. I do not know what zone you're in, but I understand zone 5-6 is the ideal zones for the A.K 'Golden Spreader'. I got hooked to conifer addiction a few years back. It took me awhile, after I managed to kill so many of them, to realize what it needs in order to build a good conifer garden. I'm still learning from the Pros and the addicts in this forum though. Soon you will be just like most of us here in this forum. you will see a lots of nut jobs in here. Be ready to pop some dough here and there to satisfy your crave and don't forget to hide the costs from your spouse or soon you will have a divorce summons in your hand. But still you can tell your spouse: Life without conifers is not worth living for! Good luck and welcome to the exciting adventure of conifer world. J.N