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When to plant tree seedlings?

15 years ago

Hello to all. I have been nursing 2 Liriodendron tulipifera seedlings for the past couple of months (their 4 siblings didn't make it). They have reached all of 5-6 inches in height and seem to be happy enough in their 1 gal. pots. My question is this: Should the little guys be planted in the ground this fall or should I winter them inside and plant them out next spring?

Although we can get frost as early as late October we don't usually get a hard winter here until mid-January (by "hard winter" I mean temps in the low 20s at night and a cold wind off of the bay most of the time - it's the wind chill that gets us). Rarely any snow cover. We have sandy soil so drainage is good (too good sometimes).

Opinions?

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Comments (4)

petzold6596
15 years ago
Since they are in pot, you need to protect the root ball from freezing. Leave them outside and do one of the following: 1 - gather them together and pile soil to the top of the container or 2 - dig a trench, place in the trench and fill iaround them with the soil. Make sure you do either in a protected area, away from winter winds and direct sun light. Also check soil moisture to prevent drying out if there is not snow cover.
ladyslppr
15 years ago
I would plant them in the ground ASAP, and water them through the rest of this summer. They are fully capable of wintering outdoors, and might not do well indoors. You may need to protect them from rabbits and deer over the winter, so a small chicken wire fence around each one would be a good idea. They would probably also survive in a pot outdoors, but why not put them in the ground so they can get started on a nice deep root system?
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eshore21814
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you ladyslppr, planting them is the direction I have been leaning. I may wait until we've had some rain since our water table is quite low right now. With our sandy soil I would probably have to water them daily (or nearly so), at least until we get some measurable rain and/or cooler weather. If they stay in pots for a few more weeks I won't have to schlep water quite so far. I will definitely get them into the ground before the end of September (and possibly next weekend if we get the rain that's predicted).

Petzold6596, would there be an advantage to keeping them in their pots through the winter (and protecting them as you recommended )as opposed to planting them?
petzold6596
15 years ago
Its a toss-up. If you can protect them, as I outlined, from the winter elements (wind, dry conditions, and sun) better than in their permeant place, then do so. If planting them now, it is important that they have time to develop a good root system. You know your local condition better I, so you can make the best call based upon the advantages and limitation outlined above.

Good luck.

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