How big is the spruce that needs to come down?

Big, big. It's been in place for more than 20 years (it was here when we bought the house.) It's going to be a chore but won't be worse than the ash trees we've taken down. Oh, and should have said I'm in central Indiana, zone 5.

when will the spruce come down ..

next good planting time for the midwest is mid sept to mid october

ken

I see. Have you considered telling your spouse you know how hard he has been working, and you're thinking of hiring someone to remove the spruce to relieve his burdens? Nothing puts a man to action like the threat to hire something out...unless it's painting, which we're then very willing to let someone else do. ;)

is the whole tree as healthy as what is shown in the picture? It looks good and I'd be inclined to bite.

You could buy the tree and plant it (temporarily) a cool location: against north side of structure/east facing, morning sun/under a deciduous tree so it receives dappled light all day and come back and replant it once the spruce is gone. Personally I'd mulch it now and come back next spring and transplant it vs. fall planting in zone 5.

Next spring once you see the first daffodils or any other bulbs (crocus) - the early spring bulbs, then it's time to transplant it.

Dax

I've dug a hole and buried pots over the winter with no problems. Pick a sheltered spot preferably out of the sun, and don't cover the rim of the pot. Hardiness shouldn't be a problem, but you could mulch with oak leaves or pine straw. Make sure the pot is well watered, and if weather is dry over winter, water.

If you put up a Christmas tree, tell hubby the top of the spruce would make an ideal FREE tree, killing two birds with one stone. Then in early spring plant your pine, checking the root ball for root problems, and you're good to go!

Totally agree with Ken!

I would probably mulch over the pot differently but no difference, really.

Dax

BTW .. mine lost all its needles for 3 winters running .. only to releaf each spring .... i think it had to do with becoming fully established ...

ken

Thanks for all the good comments and advice. I love the Christmas tree idea! DH is sick to death of cutting down trees, but doesn't want to let go, LOL! The pine trees all look really healthy and have great funky shapes. The trunks are about 2" diameter and the trees are marked down to $60. Hence my dilemma. I was thinking of exactly what Kentrees said, to just bury the pot in a sheltered spot, as I did that successfully with a rescued 4Japanese maple. I just wasn't sure if I could do it with a pine. Would you put it in a bigger pot, or just bury as is?

I used this forum as a lurker to diagnose my spruce, as local nurseries were no help. (Didn't bother to ask the big box as they just sell.) I was sick at heart to read that it's probably a goner, as it was a lovely tree. Doesn't seem fair after all the dead ash. However, I got to spend some quality time in some good nurseries, and bought some awfully nice natives to replace. Always a bright side if you look hard enough. :-)

Lisa

if you are going to stress the heck out of it repotting.. then just plant it ... no use stressing it twice ...

what your native soil is.. is very important to how the pot in the ground will drain .... and no part of the pot.. should be out of the ground... we want no sun.. even in winter.. hitting the pot edge ...

you could also creat the hole with the pot.. and then.. slip the plant out of the pot.. and simply slide it in the pothole .. no root disturbance ...

ken

Bury as is for the winter. In late winter-early spring when frost is out of the ground unpot, have a look at the roots, do any surgery you feel necessary and plant. Do not add any amendments to the soil. Keep watered until next winter at least. Unless you are in far north IN or in a very exposed location, pine should do okay for you. Depending on how much root surgery you do, you may have some foliage burn over the next winter, especially on the variegated parts. When I grew this in CT hard winters would sometime cause foliage discoloration, but new spring growth would cover any damage.

Eab is in TN now, and with an ash census of a couple hundred million trees, we'll be having some bare patches in the near future.

Just put the pot in the ground. I would just put it under my carport for the winter.

But i know from experience to get a plant when it is available because they may not be available next year.

I'm going to go buy one and give it whirl. Agree that you have to strike when opportunity presents, if you can. I've got clay soil but i have just the spot to overwinter in a northeast corner of the house. Although it's clay, it is a high spot and protected from winter winds and sun. And I have some compost that's been cooking since last fall that I can use to mulch. I will leave the roots and pot intact for now. Thanks for all the advice and moral support.

what bean said about the carport.. would not be my best choice ... in my z5 ....it might work.. but it might not ...

ken

Ok, I did it! I checked the rootball, nice and firm but no pancake bottom yet. I will site it in my corner (northeast inside) for the winter and mulch with my compost. And Ken, no worries about the carport, I don't have one. Take a peek:

Why oh why do my pix look good when I add them, and squish into funky distortion when I submit my post???

pic looks fine to me ....

i always presume.. hope.. other are lurking.. and want to make sure.. they read about things that i think might be issues ... like advice based on different zones ... peeps really need to hone in on that ...

have fun with your babe .. we already gave you a week of entertainment ...

ken

That's a beautiful specimen. It couldn't have better form.

When you click on your photo it isn't distorted.

Dax

keep the receipt handy ....

the pic is simply perfect in both formats on firefox ...

ken

Pics look good here too on Firefox.

There may be some rootball issues with such a small pot for the tree size.

Mike

Curious which Box Store, as I am in Indiana too...

Lowes in my area, had a whole skid. The trees had clearly been crammed together and some branches bent, but still a few that looked very good.

Wow - lucky you!!! I am always scoping Menards (they get some good stuff) and one particular Lowe's in Indy but nothing good has surfaced this year.

Nice tree, but you can be sure that tree is root-bound. Better search around for what to do w/such root-bound trees.

It's that continual urge to just 'see what they have' that gets me into trouble, LOL! just like this one did, ademink. :-)

I will be sure to work out any rootball issues once it has a permanent home.

Hy!

One little tipp: It's written correctly Pinus densiflora 'Oculis Draconis' :).

I have to say- really, really nice specimen- a wonderful, healthy plant! The Variegation is depending on the Sun- the more and warmer, the more Variegation. Will mean vice versa, that in rainy years or less sunny places the new growth can went nearly solid green.

Update: the tree overwintered just fine. We took down the spruce in very early spring and planted the pine. I did some major root surgery at planting. Tree is a bit stressed from planting, and I've struggled to keep it well watered. Still, it's put on good vertical growth and I'm pleased.

Update. This little tree is really doing well for me. Had some burn this winter and dropped those needles as it pushed new ones this spring. Getting bigger and better every year.

Sweet! It looks happy !!!

Love it! I still have a place in my yard (in my mind) for one of these!

gorgeous!