- 1). Plant the coniferous tree in well-draining, mildly acidic, loamy soil, in early fall. Ensure the planting site receives full sunlight and some afternoon shade. Avoid planting the tree too deeply, but keep its root collar 1 inch higher than the surrounding soil or at the same level.
- 2). Provide a slow and steady stream of water around the base of the tree to a depth of 10 to 12 inches immediately after planting. Afterward, irrigate the newly-planted coniferous tree twice a week until established, reducing frequency to once every week or 10 days when it is established. Irrigate the established tree deeply during mid to late fall to reduce foliage damage caused from drying winter winds. Reduce irrigation to once every month during the winter.
- 3). Cover the ground above the root zone with 3 inches of compost, dried leaves, wood chips or pine bark. Mulching insulates the soil during the winter, protects the roots during extreme temperatures and deters competing weeds from growing nearby.
- 4). Fertilize the coniferous tree with a well-balanced fertilizer between mid-October and March during the second year of its growth, and every year afterward. Measure the trunk diameter, using 2 pounds of the fertilizer per 1 inch of trunk width. Spread the fertilizer 6 to 10 inches away from the trunk to prevent damage.
- 5). Prune diseased or winter-damaged limbs in spring, using sharp, disinfected pruning shears. Clip off excess growth on the longest branches down to where they meet a shorter branch. Do not cut more than one-third of each branch, since severe pruning results in a misshapen or damaged tree.
- 6). Inspect the coniferous tree for common diseases such as tip blight, brown spot and needle cast. Clip off infected parts of the tree and treat immediately with fungicide to control the spread. Follow label directions for application rates.
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