Buying, managing new seedlings this winter season

The Kansas Forest Service has begun to offer fall sales of container grown plants consisting of evergreens as well as newly added hardwoods. All species are a solid 2 feet tall with a very good root system; the English Oak however, range from one to two feet, but still with a great root system.

The species available are Austrian pine, ponderosa pine, southwest pine, eastern red cedar, bur oak, English oak, sawtooth oak, lacebark elm, redbud, black walnut and pecan.

Prices will be $50 for 25 seedlings with a $10 shipping charge per unit. Orders will be taken Sept. 4 through Oct. 12; to order please call the Kansas Forest Service at (888) 740-8733.

According to Joshua Pease, Conservation Tree Planting Program Coordinator, "the seedlings look great, survivals should be high, and the customers should not be disappointed with the materials."

Every year there are newly planted trees that do not survive their first winter, whether they were planted in the spring or fall. Here are a few good management practices that will improve your young trees chance of survival.

* When planting a tree it is the only chance you have for that tree, so doing it right is extremely important. Dig the hole twice as big as the root ball is wide. It is not necessary to do this the entire depth, but for sure around the top half of the root ball, as this is the area where most of the initial rooting takes place.

* The planting hole should be no deeper than the root ball itself. If planting in heavy clay or a tree that does not tolerate wet soils, the hole should be shallower than the root ball.

* Mulch around the tree to conserve water, to reduce water and weed competition. Mulching also reduces the chance of damaged caused by lawnmowers and weed-eaters. This area should be twice as big as the root ball and three to four inches deep, but not touching any of the trunk.

* Water deeply during dry weather; this encourages deep root penetrations while shallow, frequent watering encourages shallow root growth.

* Wrap the trees trunk during the first winter to protect from sunscald

* Control insect, diseases and pests. The point of monitoring or scouting is to correct a problem as it arises, before it gets out of hand. Make a point to stroll through your yard daily to check on things and catch them when they are still easy to control.

* Wait to apply fertilizer until the tree is well established -- usually one to two years after planting. Heavy fertilization will encourage excessive foliar growth that the roots will not be able to maintain once the dry summer weather sets in.

These are just a few problems that are commonly seen with newly planted trees in Kansas. Please contact the Extension Office for more information on tree care or other problems you see in your yard.

Editor's Note: Delta George is a K-State Research and Extension agriculture and 4-H extension agent assigned to Bourbon County. She may be reached at (620) 223-3720.