Too soon to plant trees?

[Jim B]

I'm in Colorado Springs at about 6,000 feet of elevation. We haven't gotten much snow this winter, but I think we'll get a little more before summer. Is it too soon to plant trees? I'd guess not, and a bit of spring snow wouldn't bother a new tree, but I figured I'd ask.

[OtterbatHellcat]

I'm certainly no arborist, but I will say that you need to wrap young trees until they grow real bark. I'd guess the first couple of years at the least, and you really should deep root water them at least once a month pretty much all year around...and water the shit out of em for the first few months in the ground. Be careful to not over water coniferous species.

To me it seems a bit early for planting yet.

[Jim B]

I'm certainly no arborist, but I will say that you need to wrap young trees until they grow real bark. I'd guess the first couple of years at the least, and you really should deep root water them at least once a month pretty much all year around...and water the shit out of em for the first few months in the ground. Be careful to not over water coniferous species.

To me it seems a bit early for planting yet.

Great info on wrapping the tree/bark; I'll look into it. I'm pretty good about watering new trees. I've been watering the rest of the trees all winter. I haven't noticed anyone else doing that; I think the neighbors are going to have a lot of dead trees this year.

[Wulf202]

You should be fine. be careful not to wind burn them when transporting them from the nursery. I wrap all trees with a diameter less than a coke can every year. Depending on your soil you might be advised to augment by the nursery. Be sure to take the root ball cage off (yeah i've seen it). You may consider digging a tree ring. one thing I've done is put pvc pipes in the hole with the end day-lighted and allow you to water deeper and encourage root growth deeper, pull them for the first winter by soaking the ground around them and twist/pull.

[Jim B]

I wrap all trees with a diameter less than a coke can every year.

Wrap before winter then remove in the spring?

Nursery?? (I bought the tree at Walmart.)

[StagLefty]

Wrap before winter then remove in the spring?

Nursery?? (I bought the tree at Walmart.)

Should have gone to Dollar Tree

[Jim B]

...and if you already have the tree, and the ground is soft enough that you can dig an adequate hole for it, might as well plant it.

You didn't mention what variety of tree you have to plant, but it's a good idea to protect it from wildlife.

I think that's what I'm going to do.

It's an October Glory red maple. Pretty small, but it's got a nice shape to it. Bark, trunk, etc. all look to be in good shape. If it survives, it should be a nice-looking tree.

It's in a fenced back yard, so no real worries about deer.

Should have gone to Dollar Tree

Do they sell trees?

I went to a few nurseries here in COS several years ago. IIRC, everything was $300+. Not for me...

[Wulf202]

Yes, wrap around holloween, remove around mothers day.

[Jim B]

Yes, wrap around holloween, remove around mothers day.

Got it.

[TRnCO]

and if your yard gets regularly visited by deer be sure to cage the tree to keep bucks from rubbing come this fall. Deer seem to love to rub small trees.