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I went to my a local nursery to ask about having a magnolia tree planted over the winter, which they did yesterday. Of course I live in Texas which has a different climate than NJ, but the absolute worst time to plant it is in the summer because of the high water requirements and the stress that the tree experiences due to the heat. I recommend you consult with your a reputable nursery in your area.
Winter is normally not considered the ideal time for planting, especially if the temperatures regularly drop below freezing. In your area winters tend not to get too severe so, as long as you can dig the hole deep enough and water the tree at least once a week (soaking not a 5 second drip) it should work. Make sure you also mulch above the root ball to within 3 or 4 inches of the stem/trunk of the tree to protect the top most roots from freeze and thaw cycles. Ideally the best time to plant is at the very end of winter and very early spring when you tend to get more rain but if it is sitting above ground in a pot it will need similar watering to keep it from desiccating. Years ago I planted a live Christmas tree the same way and it grew beautifully.
Best depends upon the local climate. The goal is to help the plant get established before it is stressed. Some places (and years) you can plant anytime but on average spring is the safest.
Hi , I have Norway Spruce , can i plant it now or wait till spring? I live in southern NJ( Cherry Hill)
If you are willing to lose it give it a try. We have had a very mild winter, thus far, and if it continues you could be OK. That said, if I could I would hold on a bit longer and wait till the spring.
In our area I have heard quite a few people say to plant a tree in a month with an "r" in it. That takes us from September to April. Works every time that I've seen.
Will wait till the early spring. Thank you guys for help :-)
Since the experts here have spoken I sincerely hope that you have made plans to protect the tree from the coming months of temperature changes that can damage an exposed root ball since it will not be in the ground. You may need to cover the roots and water periodically and it should be kept in an area protected from the wind. I think it is a mistake to wait if you have the ability to plant it now.
I realize everyone has heard about "best" times to plant for landscape purposes, but this sounds like it might have been a live Christmas tree which is not quite the same as landscape planting. The universal recommendation is if you can put it in the ground do so right away and then you still have to protect it from wind and dessication.
Guy's i have to ask something which is that I have a rubberized shrub place that is increasing too huge for its pot, but I don't really have space for a bigger pot, so I'd like to split the place by its origins, if that will continue to perform. I've never done this before, so I don't quite know how.???
Last edited by Challis0; 02-11-2013 at 12:23 AM..
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