welcome..

please review the link ... especially the parts on clay and proper watering ...

then lets discuss options ...

to be sure ... you will love them to death if you water compulsively... trees.. which conifers are.. like a deep drink.. and then near drying before the next deep drink ..

ken

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub

Thank you, that's helpful. I just hope I didn't do this wrong. I read that using only native soil is best and we mixed in compost in ours, so I hope improper drainage isn't an issue. Also, I will take off the top burlap so it doesn't cause drying. I do wonder how the root ball can even suck up water considering it was really dense clay.

Hi Lauren,

The burlap left on top of the rootball would make proper watering very difficult. It tends to wick moisture away from the tree. It's good that you'll remove it. Once it's gone, check for the proper depth on the root flare. Growers sometimes pile a lot of soil on top of the root flare on a b&b that should be removed. The top root off the flare should be visible or close to the soil surface. If it is planted too deep, now would be the time to fix it.

Check for moisture at the roots by inserting your finger into the soil at the top of the rootball. If it's dry, water. If it feels moist, wait a few days and check again. In clay, that might be difficult and you may need to use a screwdriver or trowel to gently dig down a few inches to test. If you hit a root, move over a few inches. Hand watering, a slow, deep soak is needed this first growing season.

Tilling an amendment into an area is fine. Using straight amendments to backfill at planting is not. Since you tilled the compost in first, then planted I think you're ok.

It looks nice, that area needed some conifers!

Barb

the dryness of the ball is indicative of how dry trees like it .. to some extent ...

these plants were field grown .. and dug for delivery ... so its obvious... they dont mind clay.. eh???

but in digging them.. they had to cut off 90% of the roots ... and of course.. the ball dried in shipping ...

so your job .. is to rewet that ball ... and then LET IT NEAR DRY AGAIN ...

frankly ... since this was done yesterday... or so you seemed to say ... i might recommend a redo... asap ... pull the soil back.. dont move the trees ... cut away as much burlap as you can ... i dont care about a little left below .. tree roots grow out.. not really down ...

just dig about 1/4 of one side .... cut burlap... refill.. dig next 1/4.. etc ...

why worry about it for the next decade ...

ken

It seems more new plants die from being overwatered vs underwatered.

The Arb is going to be more finicky than the spruce so adjust accordingly. Meaning you might have to skip a watering for the spruce when the arb needs a watering.

Good news is that you have a clay ball on native clay.