Planting a dug spruce in the Peace Region

When to plant

The best windows are mid-May through June, once the ground has thawed and dried enough to dig, and mid-August to mid-September. Around Fort St John the last spring frost usually comes in mid-May and the first fall frost in mid-September. A fall-planted tree needs a few weeks of root growth before freeze-up, so aim to be done by mid-September.

• Plant on the day you pick up. If you can't, keep the root ball shaded and moist.
• Avoid hot, dry or very windy days. A cool, overcast day is ideal.

Before you dig

• Call BC 1 Call at 1-800-474-6886, or *6886 from a cell, at least three business days before you dig. It's free, and they mark buried gas, power and phone lines.
• For a windbreak or privacy row, space trees about 3 m (10 ft) apart. Anywhere from 2 to 4 m (6 to 13 ft) works. Set a second row 5 to 8 m (16 to 26 ft) back and stagger the trees.
• Keep trees at least 3 m (10 ft) from the house, fences, driveways and overhead lines. Spruce spreads 3 to 6 m (10 to 20 ft) wide as it grows.
• Pick a spot that gets at least several hours of sun a day.
• Have a skid steer or tractor on hand. The root ball is far too heavy to move by hand. Lift by the basket, never by the trunk.
• Have a load of topsoil delivered before planting day. Much of the Peace Region is heavy clay or hard, packed ground, and you'll want topsoil to mix into the backfill.

Dig the hole

• Measure the height of the root ball and dig no deeper than that. The top of the ball should end up level with the ground or 2 to 5 cm (1 to 2 in) above it. Planting too deep is the most common mistake.
• Dig the hole two to three times as wide as the root ball, about 2 to 3 m across, with sloped sides. Loose soil around the ball is where new roots grow first.
• In clay or hard ground, set the ball at the high end and roughen any smooth, smeared sides of the hole so roots can get through.

Set the tree

• Lower the tree in by the basket. Turn its best side to where you'll see it most.
• Check that it stands straight from two directions before you backfill.

Backfill and water in

• Backfill with the soil you dug out. If it's heavy clay or comes out in hard clumps, mix in topsoil so the backfill breaks up and fills in around the ball. Skip fertilizer.
• Fill the hole halfway and water it in to settle the soil and remove air pockets. Then finish filling and water again until the whole area is soaked.
• Build a low ring of soil, about 10 cm (4 in) high, just outside the edge of the root ball to hold water where the roots are.
• Spread 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) of wood-chip mulch over the planting area, and keep it 10 cm (4 in) clear of the trunk.

Brace against the wind

Wind can rock a newly planted spruce and tear the new roots. On an open or windy site, guy any tree taller than about 1.8 m (6 ft). Run three wires or straps from wide, soft ties on the trunk out to stakes, loose enough that the top can still sway a little. Take them off after one year.

Next: watering

The first year of watering decides how well the tree takes. Read First-year watering and care, or call (250) 789-3340 with questions.